Elephants. Not commodities. Taken for a ride 2
Cover image: Saddled elephants giving tourists rides at a venue in Cambodia.
Elephants. Not commodities – Taken for a ride 2 2
Contents
World Animal Protection is Elephants. Not commodities – Taken for a ride 2 registered with the Charity Commission as a charity and with Companies House as a Acknowledgement 4 company limited by Foreword 5 guarantee. World Animal Protection is governed by its Executive summary 7 Articles of Association. Charity registration number Introduction 11 1081849 Species information and population 13 Company registration number 4029540 The myth of the domesticated elephant 14
Registered office 222 Gray’s Tourist perceptions of captive elephants 15 Inn Road, London WC1X Risks of elephant interactions to people 15 8HB Captivity and welfare – what to consider about the wellbeing of elephants 17
Results 20 Animal welfare conditions at elephant tourism camps in Asia 21 Methodology 21 Findings 22 Thailand 29 Other countries 35 Documenting the common methods of elephant training in Thailand 40 Socio-economic study of Thai mahouts 45 Tourist attitudes, motivations and behaviour 47 The role of the travel industry 54 Economics of the elephant tourism industry 58 High economic value drives exploitation 61 Covid-19 impact: an opportunity to build back better 63 Conservation value and captive breeding 64
Conclusions 67 Life in captivity 67 A way forward 68
Appendix 1 70 Appendix 2 71 Appendix 3 72 Appendix 4 73
References 74
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Image: A couple of elephants at a sanctuary in Thailand.
Acknowledgement
This report was authored by Dr Jan Schmidt-Burbach, PhD, World Animal Protection’s Head of Wildlife Research and Animal Welfare, and Lindsay Hartley-Backhouse, MSc, Research Manager. It would not have been possible to complete without the dedicated contribution of the following people (in alphabetical order): Rachel Ashwanden, Manoj Gautam, Tim Gorski, Elodie Guillon, Danielle Michon, Julie Middelkoop, Faiza Mookerjee, David Owen, Nick Reale, Amy Squires and Madison Wigley.
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Foreword By Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE
I have been fortunate, over the years, to have spent a good deal supply even their most basic needs. They are forced to give rides of time watching elephants in Tanzania. Of course, this is a report to groups of people on their backs throughout the day, or to be about Asian elephants, but the two species are very similar in their washed by people as a so called ‘ethical attraction’. Some in social behaviour. Both species form close knit groups of related Thailand are trained to make drawings to sell. females and young, led by a matriarch and these groups Many of these elephants have been captured as youngsters from sometimes join up, into larger herds. They have a complex the wild, others are bred in captivity, but all are torn from the love communication system that is only now beginning to be of their mother and families. And then comes a cruel period when understood, and are among the most intelligent of all animals, with they are beaten into fear and submission. Like us elephants know big brains, long memories and very distinct personalities. joy and sadness, fear and depression. Like us they feel pain. This I spent time with a family group where one mother had very torture goes on until their will is broken and they obey to their young twins – which is not common in elephants. It was charming Mahout through fear. to see how they were trying to get the hang of their trunks, which I went to one of the better elephant camps in Nepal. There they clearly got in the way when they were trying to suckle. Their are trying to create an environment where the elephants can be older brother was a pure delight to watch as he showed-off mock released from their shackles and most of them were taken out to charging our land rover several times, tossing his head from side forage in the forest every day. Yet even there I watched two to side so that his trunk swayed to and fro. One of the females, males hobbling forward, their front legs tightly chained together to possibly his mother’s sister, gently swatted him with her trunk so prevent them from running off. It broke my heart and I am not that he moved away from us. Suddenly he spied a warthog in the ashamed of the tears I shed. grass and charged him. The exploitation and cruelty as detailed in this meticulous report is Elephants show great compassion for each other. As one all the more shocking because in both Buddhism and Hinduism wounded female lay dying the members of her group formed a the elephant is revered. The Hindu God of Beginnings is close-knit group around her, stroking her body with gentle trunks, Ganesha or Ganesh, depicted with the head of an elephant. In trying to help her to her feet. They stayed until she died. And Buddhism the elephant stands for strength, honour, patience, returned next day to cover her body with branches and leaves. peacefulness, and wisdom. Both these religions teach respect for African and Asian elephants are both listed as endangered, and animals. Mahatma Gandhi wrote that “a nation can be judged by for both, habitat loss is a major factor. As human populations the way it treats its animals”. By this criteria most countries expand, elephants come into conflict with villagers when they raid exploiting captive elephants and other animals would get very crops. Both in Africa and Asia elephants earn tourist dollars, but low marks. whereas in Africa this is mostly through wildlife viewing, Asian As I write, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected every country elephants are ruthlessly exploited in captivity. Sangita Iyer’s and caused great suffering, loss of jobs and economic chaos. The acclaimed documentary “Gods in Shackles” provides tragic tragedy is that to some extent we have brought it upon ourselves insights into their abuse for ceremonies at temples. And it is Asian through our disrespect for the environment and our disrespect of elephants who have been forced to perform for people, trained to animals. Zoonotic diseases are on the increase because we are stand on their heads, walk upright, or to carry paying visitors on creating ideal conditions for pathogens to spill over from animals their back to walk in circles. Their situation is made more to humans – in the wildlife markets of Asia, the bushmeat markets intolerable because of cruel training, prodding with a pole with of Africa, the factory farms of today’s intensive animal agriculture an iron spike called a bull hook, and shackling in between tourist and the trafficking of animals and their parts for food, medicine or performances. exotic pets. Tuberculosis, one of the 10 most deadly diseases, has This report is the result of a 10-year study of the thousands of repeatedly spilled over from humans to elephants, and infected captive Asian elephants used and horribly abused for the elephants can infect humans. entertainment of tourists, mostly kept in conditions that do not
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It is to be hoped that this pandemic will lead to us developing a more people are understanding that we humans are not the only new relationship with the natural world of which we are a part ones with personalities, minds capable of solving problems and, and on which we depend. We must recognize the importance of above all, emotions. What was acceptable in the past is no intact ecosystems in which every species of animal or plant has a longer acceptable as our understanding increases. role to play in the tapestry of life. Tragically we are losing Of course, those whose livelihoods depended on the exploitation species at an unprecedented rate – we are in the midst of the 6th of these amazing beings, the mahouts and the owners, must be great extinction, and this one is caused by us. To continue to helped to find other ways of making a living that are both capture or kill elephants in the wild is leading to their extinction in profitable and ethically acceptable. the wild, to the detriment of the habitats where they live. To continue to exploit them in captivity, whether wild caught or This report provides insights and propositions that, if followed, captive born, is to perpetrate unacceptable cruelty to highly could ensure that the current generation of captive elephants kept intelligent social and sentient beings. for commercial tourism is the last. More and more tourists are becoming educated and demanding Future generations of elephants must not experience captivity – elephant friendly experiences – safaris to see them in the wild or they should thrive in their natural habitat. I pray we all do our part sanctuaries where rescued elephants are rehabilitated. More and to ensure this vision comes true.
Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE Founder, the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace
Image: Two elephants at a sanctuary in Thailand
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Executivev summary
This report documents the plight of the 3,837 elephants used in welfare. Our researchers visited elephant tourism venues offering tourism in Thailand, India, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and a range of entertainment activities including rides, shows, elephant Malaysia as of January 2020. It features elephant living washing, feeding, selfies and observation. conditions, training, breeding, the status of the industry, academic Our data was collected through in-person observation of the research – regarding welfare and conservation – and is part of elephants, tourism activities and living conditions as well as our 10 years work in the region. Over these years we have through informal conversations with staff on site. Photographs and conducted more than 1,000 visits to more than 350 elephant occasionally videos were taken to document the findings. entertainment venues, conducted several global public surveys, engaged with hundreds of travel companies and associations, and been working with elephant venues on the ground. Ongoing suffering – but also some positive changes Despite greater demand for ‘ethical tourism' and awareness of From January 2019 to January 2020, our researchers assessed the distress caused by elephant rides, the vast majority of captive the welfare conditions of 3,837 elephants at 357 venues. In the elephants in Asia still endure widespread and lifelong cruelty, Asian countries evaluated for this report we found 2,390 (63%) living in severely inadequate conditions. elephants suffering in severely inadequate conditions at 208 And their situation is likely to get worse because of the numbers of (58%) venues. Improved, yet still inadequate conditions, were captive elephants still being bred for the tourist industry and the experienced by 1,168 (30%) elephants. Only 279 (7%) economic devastation caused by Covid-19. elephants were kept in truly high-welfare observation-only venues. Pre-Covid-19 we estimated that the entire captive elephant tourism We documented distressing conditions at venues with severely industry generated between US$581.3 to US$770.6 million of inadequate welfare conditions. Frequent short chaining, sales per year on the back of elephant suffering. Now, with very demanding activity schedules for the elephants, limited possible few tourists, owners and venues are struggling to feed their social interaction between elephants and conditions that allowed elephants and pay their workers. for very little natural behaviour were common. Throughout our research we have consistently found distressing Venues with improved, yet still inadequate conditions often offered cruelty to captive elephants in all countries. It involves separation half or full-day elephant washing or bathing experiences. Despite of mothers and calves, harsh training methods, restriction of tourists’ perceptions that elephant washing, and bathing venues movement, poor nutrition, limited or no veterinary care, social provide high welfare to elephants, our researchers expressed deprivation and punishment. In most tourist venues the elephants concerns about these attractions. Although our research shows are chained for long periods when not needed for tourism that venues offering bathing activities typically offer better welfare activities, often in inadequate shelters featuring concrete floors conditions than riding venues, they still have significant welfare and unhygienic conditions. They will typically have little or no problems. These facilities were often misleadingly promoting social interaction with other elephants and are made to perform themselves using terms like 'sanctuary'; 'rescue centre' and strenuous and stressful activities. Our researchers also noted many 'ethical'. venues actively trying to breed more elephants into captivity. This The high welfare, primarily observation-only venues allowed the not only fails to address the core problem of elephant captivity, animals to behave more naturally and within natural habitats. but also reduces the limited resources available to the elephants Visitors at these venues had very limited or no direct interaction already in the industry. with the elephants. They were able to enjoy observing elephants being elephants, without human interactions, while the mahouts continued to supervise their elephants remotely. Assessing elephant welfare conditions
We assessed elephant welfare using nine recognised criteria considered to have a significant direct impact on an elephant’s
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Thailand – centre of captive elephant tourism Nepal
Nearly three quarters of the elephants in Asia are used in We assessed 55 venues with 143 elephants. The number of Thailand (73%, 2,798) which attracted 39.8 million tourists in elephants at tourism venues in Nepal has decreased by 8% 2019. Our research estimates that about 10.9 million (28%) of between 2015 and 2020, from 155 to 143 elephants. We also those rode or planned to ride an elephant while on holiday in found that between 2015 and 2020, the percentage of Thailand. elephants living in severely inadequate conditions decreased, and those living in improved conditions at medium welfare venues had Our 2019–2020 research identifies Thailand as a continuing increased. Since 2015 several smaller scale projects have been hotspot for elephant suffering. This is because of the number of initiated that aim to provide observation-only attractions for tourists, elephants involved and the scale of cruelty inflicted due to tourist providing higher welfare to a few elephants. numbers and demand.
The overall number of captive elephants used for tourism has increased by a shocking 70% in just 10 years. Between 2010 Laos and 2020, there was a dramatic 135% increase in the number of We assessed 11 venues with 105 elephants. The number of elephants living in the very worst of conditions in the country. Out venues has increased by 83% (6) and the number of elephants by of 2,798 elephants, we found that only 5% (144) were kept in 78% (46) elephants since 2015. We found 48% (50) elephants high welfare conditions. living in severely inadequate conditions and 15% (16) living in improved conditions at medium scoring conditions. Thirty seven percent (39) of elephants lived in two high welfare venues. In India Laos, during 2019–2020, more elephants were living in better India is home to the second highest number of elephants used in conditions, and fewer were living in the worst than in 2015. tourism out of the countries in our report. Twenty one tourism venues housing 509 elephants were assessed. We found that Malaysia 44% (225) of the elephants were kept in severely inadequate conditions. Fifty one percent were housed in medium welfare We assessed 30 elephants at the sole identified elephant tourism venues. Just 4% of the assessed elephants lived in higher welfare venue. This was the first year including Malaysia in our conditions. Seventy percent of elephants were housed at venues assessments. offering rides.
Sri Lanka In Sri Lanka, we identified and assessed 13 venues, housing 188 elephants. This is an increase of 13% or 22 elephants held Image: An elephant giving rides at a venue in Thailand captive since 2015. More elephants were living in severely inadequate conditions – 24% (46) compared to 22% (36) of elephants in 2015. However, we found 28% (52) of elephants living in high-welfare conditions at a single venue, Elephant Transit Home. Here there is a clear policy against elephant entertainment and the ultimate aim is to reintroduce their elephants into the natural habitat.
Cambodia We assessed 10 venues with 64 elephants. Thirty eight percent 38% (24) of elephants were living in severely inadequate conditions. This has decreased from 67% (24) of elephants in 2015. Forty two percent (27) were living in medium scoring venues with improved conditions. In 2015 there were no elephants at any middle scoring venues.
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Training cruelty – lasts a lifetime Changing tourist attitudes
Footage was made available to World Animal Protection Our consumer surveys show that attitudes towards wildlife documenting the common practices of training elephant calves for entertainment in China and other Asian countries are changing, as the tourism industry. This footage was made during 2019 the public become more aware of animal welfare issues. Several following elephant trainers in Thailand who train 30-40 elephants industry-leading travel companies in China have joined our list of annually for the industry. It includes harrowing footage of eight more than 250 travel companies worldwide pledging to stop calves being trained. selling elephant rides and offer humane alternatives instead. The footage documents the traumatic separation of two-year-old More tourists from China visit Thailand than from any other country calves from their distressed mothers. This was followed by the – nearly 11 million visited in 2018. And elephant riding has physically and emotionally cruel methods used to establish the usually been on the bucket lists of many. However, from 2016 to dominance needed to make elephants ‘safe’ for the tourist 2019, there has been a decrease: 23% of Chinese tourists took industry. part in elephant rides in 2019 compared to 36% in 2016. Methods included: calves put in a ‘crush’ – two heavy, wooden In 2016, tourists interviewed in Thailand cited riding an elephant frames – to stop them moving; chaining; prodding and hitting if as their favourite activity (36%), and observing elephants as their they showed any signs of defensive behaviour or aggression. least preferred activity (14%). By 2019, things had changed These extremely cruel methods were mixed with offering rewards dramatically. Seeing wild animals in their natural habitat (37%) when the elephants complied, and often involved some spiritual and observing elephants (24%) became the two most preferred components as well. activities. Eighty five percent of tourists interviewed in our most recent global poll believed that tour operators should avoid Similar or variations of these training methods are used throughout activities that cause suffering to wild animals. Asia, but the cruelty of them is frequently denied or underplayed by venues and trainers. They are also not failsafe; mahouts (handlers) and tourists are injured or killed by elephants every Ending the suffering year. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown the vulnerability and In a separate study, conducted together with the Faculty of Social dependency of captive elephants on tourism – venues have been Sciences of Chiang Mai University, we found that thirty one struggling to feed their animals. The food costs for all elephants in percent of the mahouts we interviewed had been sick or injured Thailand alone are estimated at more than US$900,000 per through their work; and of those almost half were still in pain from month; a similar amount is needed for the salaries of their their injuries when interviewed. caretakers. World Animal Protection, other international NGOs organisations, and local organisations have had to step in to stop Other less punishing training methods have been tried but are these iconic animals starving. deemed ineffective in reliably protecting tourists and their handlers from harm if close contact with elephants continues to be required. Covid-19 has also shown the close link between diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people. Tuberculosis has long
been documented in both elephants and the mahouts that look Breeding matters after them – although this risk to human health is rarely publicised. Many venues argue that they keep and breed elephants for Change must start now to protect Asia’s elephants and over a conservation purposes. However, elephants reared and kept in period that gradually: tourist venues are unlikely to ever be successfully released in the • wild. reduces the number of captive elephants used for commercial tourism The breeding and use of captive elephants in tourism is a lucrative • decreases demand for captive elephant tourism business and is driven by tourist demand, commerce and profit. entertainment attractions Most captive elephants in Thailand today have been bred • improves conditions for the current generation of captive specifically for commercial tourism. Across most of Asia, elephants tourism elephants and their caretakers. are commodities and legally traded as livestock. Prices are as high as an expensive car. Unfortunately, more captive elephant breeding is likely to be happening during 2020 and beyond as owners try to mitigate the economic effects of Covid-19.
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Governments must prevent captive breeding and the intake of any wild elephants for commercial use. They should also support transitions to high-welfare observation-only venues. In this report we detail how such venues can be successful businesses using the examples of
Thailand’s ChangChill and Following Giants.
Travel companies and individual travellers are key to change. They should choose to only promote and visit elephant-friendly venues offering observation-only experiences, or choose to observe elephants responsibly in the wild. Mahouts must be part of the improvements to venues and to elephant welfare. They need better employment packages and living conditions. They also need career development that will take them beyond the lifespan of the elephant in their care. This generation of elephants must be the last to be kept in captivity. Elephants are wild animals – not entertainment commodities. They need our protection to stay in the wild where they belong
Our researchers assessed the welfare conditions of 3,837 elephants at 357 venues.
63% elephants suffering in severely inadequate conditions.
30% experienced improved, yet still inadequate conditions
7% of the elephants were kept in truly high-welfare observation-only venues.
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Image: An elephant stands chained amidst rubbish at a venue in Sri Lanka. This is a far cry from their life in the wild, where they belong.
. Introduction
Worldwide, wild animals are taken from the wild, or bred in On the other hand, some wildlife attractions can be considered captivity, to be used for entertainment in the tourism industry. Visits humane and ethical, contributing to the protection of wild animal to wildlife tourist attractions are estimated to account for up to 20- populations through tourism’s full economic potential. These 40% of global tourism.1 attractions may include observing wild animals responsibly in their natural habitats from a safe and respectful distance. They may Wildlife attractions, such as those where captive wild animals are also involve viewing them in genuine sanctuaries or wildlife- used for entertainment1, are among the most popular with tourists. friendly facilities that are part of efforts to phase out captive wild These attractions are highly profitable and a market that has animal use. grown considerably.1,2
i Wildlife entertainment includes activities that risk portraying or trivialising wild animals as pets, novelty objects, comedians, or domesticated species; that encourage animals to perform behaviours that are either unnatural, unnecessary, or harmful; that involve procedures that may be considered stressful or harmful to all or individual animals; that expose visitors or handlers to unnecessary risks of injury or disease; that are commerce-driven beyond sustaining maintenance of the animals at facilities striving to phase-out captive wild animal keeping; or that may risk replication of similar activities in harmful ways in other places.
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However, many other wildlife tourist attractions rely on practices We encourage people to be animal-friendly tourists and ask that require keeping wild animals in captivity for handling, posing travel companies to replace sales and advertisement of wildlife with, riding or watching in shows. These attractions lead to severe entertainment with activities not involving animal suffering. The wild animal suffering and in many cases may pose a risk to campaign also asks venues to adopt more humane practices for species conservation.3 their existing captive wild animals, and encourages a long-term transition towards a humane tourist attraction model. Until early 2020, international tourism growth was consistently strong and regularly outpaced the global economy.4 In 2019 1.5 Since 2010 more than 250 travel companies have joined us by billion tourist arrivals were recorded globally. Wildlife tourist committing to end all sales and promotion of venues offering attractions account for a large proportion of tourism; this highlights elephant rides and shows. Instead they have pledged to offer the need to address the increasing demand pressure on captive more humane alternatives. These include visits to genuine elephant wildlife tourism attractions. sanctuaries to support captive elephants in need, or responsible viewing of elephants in the wild. The dependency on tourism also leads to severe risks for captive wild animals when tourists fail to come. In January 2020 the Although the proliferation of wildlife entertainment tourism is a United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) global trend, it is most evident in Asia, where millions of tourists confirmed tourism as ‘a leading and resilient economic sector, flock each year. Upon arrival in Thailand, Asia’s second most especially in view of current uncertainties’.4 popular tourist destination 5, tourists are bombarded with advertising for wildlife entertainment attractions. They are invited But then the Covid-19 pandemic hit and changed the situation to: 'Ride an elephant', 'Be a mahout for a day', 'See elephant dramatically. It stopped tourism dead in its tracks and led to the shows', 'Take selfies cuddling tigers'. suffering of thousands of captive wild animals as their facilities struggled for income. Over the years, many venues have adopted language that aims to address the increasing concerns by tourists around the There is limited accurate data on the global scale of the industry wellbeing of animals. They use words such as 'ethical', 'retirement for specific species, the welfare conditions of the animals and the home', 'rescue', 'love animals', in their marketing material. To impact of this industry on the conservation status of wild what degree these terms reflect reality is mostly impossible for populations. A study commissioned by World Animal Protection tourists to confirm. through Oxford University's WildCRU found that out of 24 types of wildlife tourist attractions 14 (involving 120,000–340,000 We have conducted three comprehensive, empirical studies, over animals) had negative conservation impacts. Eighteen (involving 10 years, on the welfare conditions of captive tourism elephants in 230,000–550,000 animals) had negative welfare impacts. 1 Asia. The first study from 2010 covered only Thailand. In the 2015 and the 2019–2020 studies we included most countries Despite these figures, very few tourists gave negative feedback on with significant captive elephant tourism.6,7 Between 2010 and these attractions because of conservation or welfare concerns. 2015 we detected a 30% increase in the number of tourism The WildCRU study concluded that wildlife tourist attractions have elephants in Thailand. Three out of four elephants were living in substantial negative effects unrecognised by, or concealed from, poor and unacceptable conditions. The conditions were similar in most tourists. This suggests an urgent need for tourist education other Asian countries as well. and regulation of wildlife tourist attractions worldwide.
Wildlife entertainment is one of the most worrying types of wildlife tourist attractions. It involves animals being taken from the wild or Our main points of concern were: bred in captivity and removed from their mothers at a young age. • extreme physical restraint by chaining during day and/or They are then forced to endure cruel and intensive training to night make them perform and interact with people for the tourist entertainment industry. • limited or no opportunity for social interaction with other elephant individuals Global efforts are needed to address the welfare and conservation concerns inherent in this industry and lead to a • participation in stressful, and in some cases, extremely phase-out of wildlife entertainment. demanding show activities
Our Wildlife. Not Entertainers global campaign is based on the • non-existent or insufficient veterinary care vision that wild animals belong in the wild – not in entertainment. • inadequate nutrition This campaign focusses on captive elephant, tiger and dolphin tourism. We believe these animals are flagship species, and • use of pain-inflicting or fear-instilling tools to train and retain changes for them can trigger changes across the entire wildlife control over elephants. entertainment industry.
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This report expands and updates our research from 2010 and Species information and population 2015. Our results and comparison over the past 10 years have produced one of the most comprehensive studies of the welfare Asian and African elephants are the largest land-based mammals conditions for captive elephants in the tourism industry. In this alive. Adults can weigh between 3,000–5,000kg with a body report we have also included our global public attitude surveys length of more than 6m. Elephants are long lived – up to about and industry analyses. Our comprehensive research will help 70 years in the wild, although their lifespan in captivity is generally expert travel industry stakeholders, governments, elephant experts considered shorter.8 and regular travellers make informed decisions to better protect Pregnant females have a gestation period of around 20 months. elephants. They take care of their offspring for the first four to five years and The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic illustrate the urgency of continue to supervise them for several years after that. Adult males reversing the intentional dependency of endangered, complex travel alone, joining a female group for periods or forming animals such as elephants on commercial tourism. The pandemic temporary male groups. demonstrates the risks and consequences to us all of close Elephants are some of the most socially-developed mammals in interactions with captive wild animals. the world and can arrange themselves into a complex social The loss of tourism and the lack of compensative government structure. They form multi-tiered societies, based on mother-calf actions has led to severe challenges in maintaining the elephants units, bonded joint-family units (that stay together), and clans that that are bred specifically for the tourist industry. Although World coordinate their behaviour.9 Animal Protection, many other groups and initiatives stepped in to Asian elephants are considered endangered by the International support elephants in this difficult time, the pandemic clarifies that Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They are on Appendix keeping captive elephants in commercial tourism must be phased I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species out. (CITES), which prohibits commercial international trade of And this phase-out must be supported by responsible elephants and their elephant parts. governments, the travel industry and elephant protectionists. It is Constant human encroachment into the elephant’s habitat and vital that there are solutions to protect the existing captive poaching for ivory or live animals has caused the Asian elephant elephants and that captive breeding for commercial purposes is population's rapid decline in recent decades. Estimates of the ended. total population range between 45,671 and 49,028 elephants.10 Elephants need to be protected in the wild where they belong and where they can serve their important ecological role. Tourism entertainment is no adequate place for them.
Image: Tourists ride elephants at a venue in Thailand.
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The myth of the domesticated elephant
There are three commonly recognised elephant sub-species. ‘Domesticated’ is a term often used to describe elephants in These are: the Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) on the captivity, to imply they are distinct from their wild counterparts. Asian mainland; the Ceylon elephant (E. m. maximus) in Sri Lanka, Tourists and travel industries are exposed to this term in advertising and the Sumatran elephant (E. m. sumatranus) in Indonesia.10 and at elephant entertainment venues where it is communicated Populations of these wild elephant species spread across 13 through educational materials and by guides and mahouts. countries (or range states).11 Also, many tourist industry stakeholders in countries using captive There are estimates of fewer than 500 elephants in the wild in elephants refer to them as 'domesticated animals'. They argue each of Bangladesh, China, Nepal and Vietnam and fewer than domestication because of the long history of keeping elephants in 1,000 in Bhutan, Cambodia and Laos. The population of captivity. Even in scientific literature, a medium relied on for elephants in the wild in Thailand is estimated to be between accuracy, the term is sometimes and incorrectly used to describe 3,126–3,341. India has the largest population with an estimated captive elephants. 27,312 elephants. 10 But elephants are not domesticated.14,15 They have never There are also significant populations of captive elephants; these undergone the process of ‘domestication’: a long-term socio- are estimated to constitute about one-third of all remaining Asian biological process. Although discussions continue on the exact elephants and this ratio is likely to increase. In 2018, 14,930– definition of domestication, it is commonly agreed that 15,130 Asian elephants were assumed to live in captive or semi- domestication can only involve human-guided, selective breeding wild conditions and were typically used for logging, village work, for no fewer than a dozen generations.16–18 In each generation, tourism, or temple purposes.10 the offspring that carry the desired traits (eg strength, fur, size, behaviour) are selected for further breeding. Captive elephants are primarily sourced from the wild although in some countries captive breeding has been practiced with some The term 'domestication' also always refers to a whole success. Commercial gain has been identified as a prime population, so by definition an individual animal can never be motivator for acquiring elephants.12 A report from the wildlife domesticated in its lifespan. A domesticated species is significantly trade monitoring network TRAFFIC, reports the illegal capture of different from its wild cousin in its instincts, anatomy and the 79–81 wild elephants, between April 2011 and March 2013, emphasised traits desired by humans. While domesticated for sale to the Thai tourism industry.13 animals still often display a range of natural behaviours, they differ in the intensity of stimuli required to trigger a certain behaviour Most of the animals were from Myanmar. There the capture of change. This makes them easier to handle than their wild elephants is considered a serious threat to the future survival of the counterparts. country’s wild population of around 2,000–4,000 Asian elephants. TRAFFIC concluded: ‘Wild live elephants are being Throughout the 3,000-year human-elephant relationship, most illegally captured to supply the lucrative tourism industry in elephants used by people have been captured from the wild. This Thailand and urgent changes to the country’s legislation and means the long history of people using elephants is not a valid elephant registration procedures are needed to stop the argument to label elephants as domesticated. Even today, most trafficking.’ adult elephants originate from the wild, while others are typically first or second generation captive-bred. Breeding is not done
selectively – yet selective breeding is a prerequisite in the biological process of domestication.
Elephants are not domesticated.
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Most captive Asian elephants used for tourist rides today will still usually paints an inaccurate and often romanticised picture. This have been captured directly from the wild. However, the exact reinforces the perception of elephants as well-cared-for pets, number is difficult to validate as there are only incomplete adding to the enjoyment for the visitor and further fuelling support databases available to verify origins. Various authors define the for this industry. case of captive elephants as a classical example of animal It can also be difficult for an untrained person to identify signs of taming and training, not domestication. 15 elephant distress or discomfort. Apart from the typical While elephants are not domesticated, their time in captivity and stereotypical swaying, distressed elephants do not always display the close interaction with their human keeper imprints on the distress. Elephant body language can be difficult to interpret and behaviour of individuals. Some authors suggest introducing is not comparable with the body language of domesticated additional terminology between the outliers of ‘domesticated’ and animals people are familiar with. ‘wild’, such as ‘tamed’ or ‘captive wild animals’.16 However,
'tamed’ is commonly felt to be vague and potentially misleading considering the persisting dangerousness of the animals. And the word ‘captive’ could imply that the animal has been captured T he usual visitor experience of directly from the wild, which is not the case for elephants born in captivity.19 elephants in tourism paints a Consequently, the term ‘captive wild animals’ most closely reflects elephants in entertainment as they remain biologically identical to skewed picture of a captive their wild relatives and many still originate from the wild.20 This label also allows for stricter regulations of the use of these animals, recognising that their complex needs are identical to their elephant’s life. truly wild relatives. The term 'domesticated' is prone to misuse by applying livestock regulations and keeping elephants accordingly.14
Tourist perceptions of captive elephants Risks of elephant interactions to people Captive elephants remain one of the most dangerous animals The term ‘domesticated’ is not only inaccurate, it distorts tourist used in tourism. Anecdotal sources suggest that for every male perceptions, hinders conservation work and efforts to ensure elephant in captivity, one human fatality will occur. Considering better welfare of captive elephants. If animals are described as that there are a few thousand bulls in captivity, this is a worrying domesticated not wild, visitors are more likely to accept their suggestion. It is unclear how many people each year are killed or chaining for long periods, their confinement to small spaces, and severely injured by captive elephants, but it is certainly higher than their close contact with handlers and trainers. with any other captive wild animal used by humans. The term ‘domesticated’ implies that the animal has lost its wild Our 2017 'Taken for a ride' report outlines that between 2010 instincts and, like cats, dogs and horses, has adapted successfully and 2016, 17 fatalities and 21 serious injuries caused by captive to a life of human companionship. For elephants, nothing could be elephants in Thailand alone were reported by the media.7 Victims further from the truth. The usual visitor experience of elephants in were international tourists, local bystanders, or mahouts. Mahouts tourism paints a skewed picture of a captive elephant’s life. clearly bear the highest risk and so are the most frequent victims. The few minutes a tourist spends with an elephant during a ride The number of unreported incidents is high; there is often no do not reveal the elephant’s true life or what it has endured publicity unless a foreign tourist is involved. before. Although elephant painting or playing football are clearly Male elephants are most commonly involved in these incidents. not natural to elephants, the venues rely on the ‘cute’, exotic and During their ‘musth’ period, a natural and periodic phase of novel factors of these activities appealing to tourists. And although increased testosterone production, an elephant bull can become the brief interaction of riding allows the tourist to appreciate the unpredictable and often extremely aggressive. Even the most elephant's bulk and beauty it hides the daily boredom, social progressive elephant institutions struggle with the management of isolation and confinement of captivity. elephants in musth and chain them in isolation for the duration. This Messaging communicated by tour guides and mahouts also does can be anything from a week in younger animals to up to two not usually reveal the realities of the elephant’s life in captivity; it months in older ones.21
Elephants. Not commodities – Taken for a ride 2 15
Elephants that turn aggressive and uncontrollable or start crucial for future studies to assess this risk and its impact on the expressing severe stereotypic behaviour due to their captive health of tourists. It is also crucial that the risk of transmission of environment are usually removed from the camps. They may be tuberculosis to elephants from people carrying the disease be traded off to other places or isolated spatially. However, assessed too. sometimes a tourism venue will ignore the signs of aggression and There may be other diseases too. Sixty percent of emerging urge a mahout to keep using the elephant to maximise profits. infectious diseases are zoonotic, most are thought to originate Other times a less experienced or over-confident mahout might not from wild animals; close proximity to people elevates the risk of recognise, or ignore these signs. infection.32,33 If the Covid-19 pandemic has proven one thing, it is Managing elephants is extremely high risk and highlights their that people should stay clear from handling wild animals. This unsuitability for captive environments, especially when in direct includes trading wild animals for consumption, for supposed contact with people. medical use or for tourist entertainment.
There are also public health concerns for people in close contact with elephants. Tuberculosis in elephants has been well recognised for centuries.22,23 Tuberculosis is a chronic disease documented in captive Asian elephants worldwide including Managing elephants is Thailand 24, Nepal 25 and in zoos in the USA 26. It has long been recognised as an emerging zoonotic disease, with two-way extremely high risk and transmission of the disease between people and elephants evidenced in 1998.27 highlights their unsuitability for Consequently, close contact between tuberculosis-carrying elephants and people within confined workplaces poses a serious captive environments, infection risk. Molecular studies on four elephants with tuberculosis in Thailand indicated that the disease was most probably especially when in direct transmitted from humans.24 Studies on tuberculosis in zoos in the USA found that Asian elephants carried the disease six times more often than African elephants.28 contact with people. Active and latent tuberculosis has been reported in 20% of captive elephants in Malaysia and 24% of their mahouts with indication of two-way transmission of the disease.29 In Nepal, tuberculosis in captive elephants was first identified in 2002. Image: A male elephant at a Thai riding venue. Males are most commonly During 2002–2009 seven captive elephants died from the involved in incidents injuring tourists and mahouts. disease, and in 2011, 25% (11 out of 44) elephants tested positive for tuberculosis.25 In 2018, an examination by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) of 10 elephants at Amer Fort in India showed they had tuberculosis; AWBI urged that they be removed from tourism activities.30,31 The AWBI used a test that was internationally accepted as standard for elephant tuberculosis testing. Worryingly, in response, the Rajasthan authorities decided to use a local, non-elephant specific test-kit to test these elephants again. They concluded that the elephants were fit to continue being used for tourist rides. Reliable screening for tuberculosis is rare, so the actual health risk of tuberculosis carrying elephants is hard to predict, but the results can have grave consequences. This information raises serious questions about the public health risk of elephant attractions that allow close contact between tourists and elephants. Activities such as trunk kisses or giving tourists trunk showers may facilitate a disease transmission. It is
Elephants. Not commodities – Taken for a ride 2 16
Captivity and welfare – what to consider about the wellbeing of elephants
Animal welfare is about how an animal feels resulting from mental, physical and behavioural functions. Ensuring high standards of welfare for elephants in captivity is particularly challenging. This is due to their physical size, complex social needs, high level of intelligence, large home ranges, diverse diet, large behavioural repertoire, and natural habitat of tropical and subtropical climates and forests.
The following are some of the complex considerations relating to their natural habitat.
• As the largest terrestrial land mammal34, Asian elephants require a great deal of space and resources. They consume up to 300kg of food per day35 and forage up to 10km through dense forest36. Their home ranges vary between 30km² to 600km² 37.
• Natural resources in the complex forest environment enable elephants to self-regulate their nutrient intake, particularly to supplement dietary deficiencies and counter digestion problems.38 They are known to be very selective in what plants they eat. They depend on the availability of between 20 to 75 different plant species in the wild.39–42 The forest also provides plenty of stimulation for their highly developed olfactory receptors, which they engage daily for foraging, social communication and reproduction43,44.
• Elephants are always close to a source of fresh water because they need to drink at least once a day. They also typically bathe and often swim in water each day. Other common activities are mud and dust bathing, rubbing on trees, and exploring their environment using their trunk.45
• Asian elephants are sensitive to environmental and social surroundings. Factors such as herd structure can have negative welfare impacts46 and there is a wide range of individual variation in responses to environmental conditions47.
• Male elephants experience ‘musth’, an annual rise in testosterone levels that causes increased aggression. In captivity, violent behaviour exhibited during musth can be a danger to surrounding elephants and people and is difficult to control without intervention.48
• Asian elephants have complex social structures. They form multi-tiered societies with herds of up to 20 individuals.9 Herds display a range of social and cooperative behaviours, including sharing the care of offspring. Studies have documented captive calves spend up to 98% of time with different herd members during their first six months of life49 which is crucial for social development. After birth, elephant mothers look after their offspring for the first four to five years and continue to supervise them for several years after. Female offspring tend to remain in the mother herd all their life, while male offspring may leave the herd at between 10-15 years.50
• Elephants are highly intelligent animals with the capacity for complex thoughts and emotions.34 Evidence of a wide range of cognitive abilities51 and emotional responses to stress and trauma52,53 have been documented.
• New research shows that we have much more to learn about behaviour and biology of Asian elephants. Due to the practical difficulties of observing them in thick foliage in forest environments, we have a relatively limited understanding of their social behaviour and structure in the wild.38,54 Therefore we cannot ensure they are suitably provided for in captivity.
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In captivity, elephants will face situations which they would rarely, 55 or never experience in the wild. Understanding how captivity Intensively managed elephants affects elephants and how to assess their condition has been a topic of dispute between stakeholders for a long time. In Asia, a caretaker usually controls the elephant through direct contact and relying on restraints and tools to ensure compliance. Historically, when assessing conditions of elephants, most Caretakers are prone to injury despite the tools, and in most cases attention has been placed on parameters that are readily the impact on the welfare of captive elephants is severe. In Asian measurable. These include body condition, health status or range countries, captive management has prioritised the interests glucocorticoid hormone levels. Consequently, animal welfare is of the owner and, understandably, the safety of the caretaker over still often defined as the absence of negative states, such as the psychological or physiological needs of elephants.12 absence of disease, of hunger, or of pain. These captive management systems resemble ‘intensive Yet the welfare of animals, especially highly sentient species such management’ systems of livestock. This contrasts with ‘extensively’ as elephants, is vastly more complex. It requires a deeper managed farming systems, where animals like sheep seasonally 56 recognition of the psychological needs as well. Insights into enjoy a significantly enhanced behavioural freedom through free neuro- and behavioural science over the past 15 years highlight roaming access to land.60 When managing elephants intensively it that sentient animals are likely much more sensitive to is crucial to recognise that some procedures may be necessary to 57 environmental and social factors than previously thought. These safeguard the keeper, visitors or property from harm. However, insights have led to revising previous animal welfare concepts, their necessity does not make them any more acceptable or better such as the Five Freedoms. for the elephant. The following typical examples highlight this One of the original animal welfare concepts, the Five Freedoms, is dilemma. limited in its assumption that the absence (‘freedom‘) of negative • Chaining, tethering or keeping elephants in enclosures is states ensures high welfare. The more modern animal welfare often necessary when managing elephants. But this directly concept of the Five Domains considers nutrition, environment, affects their behavioural freedom and behavioural freedom is health, and behaviour as governing inputs that result in a range of critical to ensuring better welfare. positive or negative mental states.58 • Providing a diet that consists of only three or four different Combined with concepts such as the Quality of Life spectrum it components may be a necessity in captivity due to economic enables one to prioritise reducing negative experiences and or logistic limitations, yet it negatively affects the elephant’s enabling positive experiences to ensure highest welfare welfare. throughout an animal’s life.59 To what degree such high welfare can be achieved depends on several factors. These include • Maintaining control of a 3,000 – 5,000kg elephant may whether a species has adapted to captivity through require using tools that create a strong enough stimulus to domestication, its species specific needs and each individual prevent the elephant from aggressive or unwanted animal’s characteristics and preferences. It also depends on the behaviour. However, this leads to painful punishment, induces available resources and what motivates people keeping the fear, and limits behavioural freedom. animals to prioritise welfare over the animal’s value as a • Training of elephants to perform in shows or other activities commodity. requires aversive, punishment-based training to ensure It can be challenging to measure an individual animal’s physical sufficient compliance by the animals to perform the various and psychological welfare. However information about longevity, tricks and activities. Studies have shown development of health status, range of natural behaviours, foraging opportunities, symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder autonomous decision-making and opportunities for social (PTSD) from such traumatic incidents in an elephant’s youth, interaction can build a picture. and increased mortality several years after training.53,61 Modern zoos have mostly advanced to elephant management styles that allow elephants to freely roam enclosures, while staff only interact with them through protective barriers. This was done partially to enable higher welfare standards, but also to protect the elephant keepers from injuries and fatalities. Yet in the Asian elephant range countries ‘protected contact’ elephant management styles are not common or feasible.
Elephants. Not commodities – Taken for a ride 2 18
activities alone is not automatically guaranteeing higher welfare for the elephants.
Our elephant-friendly transition guidelines involve best-practice animal management practices that must be incorporated at all venues, no matter which tourism activity is offered. Best-practice animal management venues allowing elephants more autonomy, more natural behaviours, and no direct contact with visitors potentially offer vastly higher welfare than venues using conventional, direct interaction and restraint practices. There are clear challenges in implementing such improved practices and not all captive elephants may benefit from them. But, these arguments should not prevent striving for such improvements or calling for a decrease in captive elephant populations. Image: A mahout and elephant at a riding venue in Thailand. The mahout carries a bullhook, or ankhus, a tool used to express and reinforce the dominance of the However, even high-welfare observation-only practices can only mahout over the elephant. be a compromise to fully meeting all of an elephant’s needs. They cannot serve as a justification for continuing to keep elephants captive for tourism beyond the current generation of elephants. Researchers from Thailand’s Chiang Mai University and the USA’s The notion from many proponents of the captive elephant industry Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute dispute that elephant that there could be an acceptable way of keeping elephants shows, rides, the metal hooks used by mahouts for control, or within a commercial industry is deeply worrying. The need for the chain restraints always affect elephants’ welfare negatively.62 many procedures restricting elephants’ autonomy, social However, the researchers do not clarify how, why or where these interaction and natural behaviour when intensively managing practices will not have a negative impact. It appears that the elephants in ‘protected contact’ systems, highlights their necessity of such practices is confusing as it rules it as acceptable. unsuitability for captivity. This leads to the worrisome conclusion that it is acceptable to use chains, metal hooks, or show performances when keeping This unsuitability is highlighted further by the risks to the lives and endangered wild animals such as elephants in captivity. Chiang wellbeing of keepers and people around elephants and the Mai University is based in an area that is at the epicentre of the financial dependency on tourism. As evidenced by the Covid-19 captive elephant entertainment industry. pandemic the decline in tourism has led to a crisis where captive elephants are at risk of starvation. Several other similar studies originating in Thailand have investigated selective aspects of the conditions of captive tourism elephants. This is positive as even basic animal welfare concepts were mostly unheard of 10 years ago. However, the language There are clear challenges in and methodologies used tend to oppose a phase-out of the commercial captive elephant industry. implementing such improved In some cases the studies attempt to discredit elephant management models that allow for increased autonomy and less practices and not all captive interaction with visitors by asserting they are negative for elephants may benefit from them. elephants.62–64 It is disconcerting that an expansion of the commercial captive elephant industry is accepted while But, these arguments should not discrediting or ignoring benefits of less intensive alternative elephant tourism attractions, such as observation-only models. prevent striving for such More details can be found in Appendix 1. improvements or calling for a It must be acknowledged that these cited studies also contain many very useful and important findings that must certainly be decrease in captive elephant considered when trying to improve captive elephant welfare. And it is crucial to understand that offering observation-only tourist populations.
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Results
The findings of several in-depth studies on captive elephant tourism are included in this report. They are:
• the third iteration of our elephant camp assessment across most of South-East and South Asia
• a socio-economic study on mahouts in Thailand
• a detailed outline study of the commonly used elephant training methods in Thailand
• a summary of our three biennial global public surveys of 12,000 respondents to track attitudes and knowledge trends.
• a summary of our three biennial public surveys of over 1,000 tourists of the top nationalities visiting Thailand.
Together, they form a comprehensive analysis of the tourism industry driving captive elephant tourism.
Image: An elephant performs in a circus-style show at a venue in Thailand.
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Animal welfare conditions at elephant As outlined previously, captivity tourism camps in Asia is not an adequate place for Methodology The elephant camp assessment, conducted between February elephants as their needs can 2019 and January 2020, assesses the scale of the captive Asian elephant tourism industry across Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, never be fully met there. Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. It provides clarity about the conditions the elephants face in the industry by assessing conditions that affect their welfare at each venue.
This research is the third iteration of its kind, following our 2010 identified venue, this venue is not included in the analyses, yet we 6 study on elephant welfare conditions in Thailand and the more have listed them separately for transparency reasons in this report. comprehensive study from 2015 which has an identical scope as For each venue, a range of information was collected. This the present one 7. This 2019–2020 study concludes a 10-year included everything that researchers were able to observe or timeframe of monitoring welfare conditions of tourism elephants in extract through casual conversations and interviews with staff. Thailand, and five years for the other countries. It is the longest They focussed on the number and genders of elephants; the way and most comprehensive study of its kind to date in defining trends they were kept day and night; stereotypic occurrences; the daily and concerns in the captive elephant tourism industry. routines; interaction with keepers, and activities the elephants The assessment focussed on elephants in venues destined for were used for. Photographs and occasionally videos were taken tourism; it does not reflect the entire captive elephant population. to document the findings. Elephants are sometimes kept at temples for ceremonies, used for A rapid welfare conditions assessment was completed for each logging or to carry heavy loads, or kept by government authorities venue and a score sheet approach was used. This score sheet for use in national park law enforcement activities. A welfare covered nine criteria considered to have a significant direct assessment of the conditions those animals face was not within the impact on an elephant’s welfare. Table 1 shows the criteria and scope of this research. This choice of focus on tourism elephants the associated sub-criteria of the well-established was made due to our campaign focus. It does not suggest that WelfareQuality® assessment system often used for livestock.65 elephants in other captive situations do not suffer or do not require Each criteria was scored along a 5-point scale from 0-4 for each attention. venue. The aim was to identify and assess as close as possible to 100% The total score of all nine criteria for each venue was converted of the existing captive elephant tourism venues. These included: into a single final score on a scale from 1 (worst) to 10 (best elephant riding camps; elephant shows in zoos; elephant-care possible captive conditions). Where rounding was required, tourism experiences, and venues focusing on providing better scores of .0–.4 were rounded down, while scores of .5 –.9 were alternatives to captive elephants without offering performances or rounded up to the next digit. direct visitor interactions. It must be stressed that even a best score of 10 would only We identified the venues through a review of internet sources, indicate best-practice captive conditions and is not suggesting that guidebooks, interviews with local experts and street-by-street these would be adequate for elephants. As outlined previously, physical scouting for venues in tourist areas likely to have elephant captivity is not an adequate place for elephants as their needs attractions. Previously collected GPS locations of the venues can never be fully met there. identified in the 2010 and 2015 studies were also very useful. This rapid welfare conditions assessment was created to allow for This study only provides names of the highest-ranking venues in the the large scope of this study; it does not attempt to be fully Appendix. Other venues are not named because we comprehensive. It also does not provide a direct measurement of acknowledge that practices may change; we would like to avoid an individual elephant’s welfare; this would require long-term misrepresenting venues in this report once they have implemented monitoring of behaviour combined with physical health improvements. parameters. Instead it evaluates the conditions that affect the All venues were visited by the researchers in person at least once, elephants' welfare that they face daily. The study identifies key sometimes repeatedly, to document the situation and ensure an areas of welfare concern. In previous published studies this objective assessment not reliant on hearsay or anecdotal methodology has proved to give a good indication of the evidence. If it was not possible to conduct a personal visit to an situation for elephants.
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Table 1: Scoring criteria with relevant associated WelfareQuality® subcriteria.66
Scoring criteria in this study Associated WelfareQuality® subcriteria
Behavioural freedom Expression of other behaviours, expression of social behaviours, thermal comfort
Hygiene Absence of disease, comfort around resting
Environmental noise Comfort around resting, absence of general fear
Rest area Comfort around resting, ease of movement, thermal comfort
Naturalness Expression of other behaviours, thermal comfort, absence of general fear
Social interaction Expression of social behaviours
Diet Absence of prolonged hunger, absence of prolonged thirst, expression of other behaviours
Visitor interaction intensity Expression of social behaviours, expression of other behaviours, good human-animal relationship, absence of general fear, absence of injuries
Animal management Absence of injuries, absence of disease, good human-animal relationship, absence of general fear, absence of pain induced management procedures
Findings As of January 2020, 3,837 elephants were kept at 357 identified As of January 2020, 3,837 and assessed venues across Thailand, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia.ii This is an increase of 31% (932) elephants were kept at 357 of assessed elephants since 2015. Elephant rides were offered at 57% (205) of venues, housing a identified and assessed venues total of 2,449 elephants. Eighty percent (165) of those venues – housing 2,078 (54%) of total elephants – used wooden or steel across Thailand, India, Nepal, saddles. The remaining 20% (40) of venues offered bareback rides, without saddles, as part of experiences that teach visitors Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia and the basics of how mahouts manage their elephants. Malaysia. Thirty two percent (1,214) of elephants at 46 venues took part in circus-style shows, often performing several times a day. At 98 venues, 16% (608) of elephants were used in washing and bathing activities, but not for rides. At 14 venues, 6% (228) of elephants were used only in feeding interactions; they were not washed, ridden, used to perform in shows or for selfie opportunities.
ii For Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Thailand we are confident that our research has covered more than 90% of the existing venues. Due to India’s size and despite best efforts in the research, we must assume that several elephant tourism venues there are not accounted for in this research. In the countries other than India, an additional 10 venues were identified, but were unable to be assessed. These house an estimated 60 elephants, 28 of which are housed at Wildlife Friends Foundation of Thailand (WFFT). While WFFT scored well on our previous assessments, permission to visit during this research was not granted.
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At venues where feeding is the only interaction permitted between or other activities were offered. These 17 venues housed 183 elephants and guests, this is commonly carried out over a barrier elephants, or just under 5% of all the elephants identified. for safety reasons. In many cases, the elephants’ participation in Nearly three quarters of the elephants assessed were used in feeding is voluntary and they can leave the feeding area at will. A Thailand (73%, 2,798) (Figure 1). Thailand has more than twice further 17 venues (5%) were observation only, where no feeding the number of elephant venues than the other countries combined.
Figure 1: The number of elephants in tourism by country.
Number of elephants in tourism by country
105 30 64 143 188 171
509
2798
Thailand India - assessed India - estimated, unassessed Nepal Cambodia Laos Sri Lanka Malaysia
Our research shows that 2,390 elephants (63% of all elephants) are kept in severely inadequate conditions. Severely inadequate During the day, when not is represented by welfare scores of 5 or lower on a scale from 1 (worst) to 10 (best) (Figure 2). For those elephants, chaining is a being used for rides or common feature both day and night when not used in activities. Typical welfare concerns include being allowed only the bare shows, 23% (898) of the minimum of social interaction if any. They are fed an inadequate diet with very little variation, have limited access to appropriate elephants were chained on veterinary care and generally face stressful environments. These can include loudspeakers, concrete-ground shelters, large visitor short chains of a maximum groups or noisy roadside locations. During the day, when not being used for rides or shows, 23% (898) of the elephants were 3m length. chained on short chains of a maximum 3m length. A further 2% (94) of elephants were chained on long chains outside of rides and 54% (2,078) of elephants were kept at venues offering saddled rides to tourists every day.
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Improved conditions, represented by scores from 6–8, were Finally, 279 elephants (7% of all elephants) were kept at venues experienced by 1,168 elephants (30% of all elephants). Their where conditions are described as best possible under captive venues provided a more natural environment, less intensive tourist conditions. The best possible means receiving scores of 9 or 10. activities and no saddled rides. These venues also usually Typical conditions at these higher-welfare venues usually included featured more knowledgeable and caring staff, limited working chain-free access to enclosures or natural habitat during the day hours for the elephants and usually better working conditions for and sometimes at night. Elephants were also allowed to socially the mahouts. Despite these improvements, elephants were still interact with other elephants on their own terms and form social mostly restrained by chains when not participating in activities. bonds. There were also usually opportunities to browse or forage However, these chains were usually long chains of 5-15m or themselves in natural habitat and demonstrate a wider range of longer. natural behaviours. This was facilitated through free access to Tourist activities commonly focussed on bathing and washing varied terrain that often included sand or mud pits. Visitors at these elephants, feeding them and learning some basic elephant facts. venues had very limited or no direct interaction with the elephants; Most of these activities require constant control – either physically they primarily enjoyed observing elephants simply being or verbally – of the elephants by their mahouts, so that tourists can elephants, or preparing food treats for them. participate in these direct interactions.
Activities Offered Pros Cons
Shows • Reduces elephants to circus-style entertainers. • Repetition of unnatural tricks poses injury risk. • Harmful training techniques. • Loud crowds and noisy environment. • Under full mahout control – no autonomy. • Under full mahout control – no autonomy. Saddled rides • Regular exercise through the riding activity if • visitor demand is adequate. Monotonous activity. • Potential injury and discomfort due to unnatural weight bearing and if inadequate saddles. • When visitor numbers are low, elephants may be chained for long periods during the day. • Close interaction by visitors requires full mahout control, Washing, bathing • Half-day and full-day activities may allow particularly during bathing / feeding. and feeding, or Be some time for autonomous behaviour and • a mahout (1hr, half- socialisation. Higher risk of injury for visitors through close interaction with day, full-day, multi- elephants. • Venues with half-day and full -day activities are day visits) • often located in more natural environments 1hr bathing activities are of serious concern – elephants may which allow foraging opportunities. They may be washed repeatedly over the course of the day, include features that encourage some natural damaging skin and providing no additional hygiene benefits. behaviour, such as mud and sand pits for • Risk of glossy marketing and promotion as an ‘ethical no-ride’ bathing. venue covering up potentially poor elephant management. • Risk of glossy marketing and promotion as an ‘ethical no-ride’ Observation only • Offers the best opportunities to observe venue covering up potentially poor quality elephant elephants behaving more naturally. management. • Offers highest autonomy for elephants, with • Risk of limited movement and so lack of exercise if elephants the freedom to socialise, forage and move at will. are not incentivised with food or other enrichment to encourage them to use the full available space. • Offers elephants an environment with free • Requires skilled mahouts who understand how to integrate choice of clean water, pools for bathing and elephants in compatible groups and supervise elephants with mud/dust baths. the least amount of interaction possible. • Lower visitor footfall due to higher pricing - less disturbance for the elephants.
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Figure 2: Welfare conditions for elephants at venues in Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia in 2015 and 2020. Note: As Malaysia was not studied in 2015, the 30 elephants there have been removed from the
comparison.
Welfare condition scores 2015 and 2020 1200
1000 966 943
774 800 714
600 520 452 468 Elephants 400 352 348
211 178 200 131 130 139 137 101 93 101 0 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Animal welfare condition scores
2015 2020
While these welfare condition scores are based on a relatively poorly despite only offering feeding. Conversely, a venue which complex scoring system, our data shows that it is also possible to offers bareback riding may score well if the elephants are off gain general indications of the welfare conditions by simply chain and free to roam in the jungle outside of short working looking at the activities offered by the venues. hours. Figure 3 shows that venues offering elephant shows or saddled elephant rides dominate the lower ranking welfare scores. They It is important to recognise that any venue must implement best- are followed by venues that only offer rides without saddles, such practice general elephant management practices independent of as venues that offer ‘Be a mahout’ for a day. Observation-only the tourist activity offered. Regular health checks, access to venues tend to dominate the higher ranking scores. adequate veterinary care, balanced nutrition and a healthy Medium-high scores were usually achieved by venues not offering balance of exercise are important foundations for the welfare of any riding, but close direct interaction, such as washing elephants elephants. Simply offering observation-only or feeding activities as part of a half or full-day programme. High welfare scores were without implementing such general elephant care best-practice achieved by venues only offering feeding opportunities. The aspects should be addressed by the venue management highest welfare condition scores were achieved by venues only immediately. offering observational activities. These venues offer no close direct interaction with the elephants, which also have free-range opportunities. There are exceptions to these rules as Figure 3 also shows. For Figure 4 clearly shows how the average score of a venue example, venues with scores of between 5 and 7 can be found increases as the intensity of interaction increases, with venues across several different activity types. In these mid-scoring venues, offering shows and riding having the lowest scores and it is the conditions of the elephants outside of their activities which observation-only venues, the highest. affect their scoring. For example, a noisy, roadside venue where elephants are kept on short chains, without shelter, would score
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Figure 3: Animal welfare condition scores according to their offered activities. Venues offering elephant shows or saddled riding rank lowest, followed by venues offering rides without saddles and venues offering only washing of elephants. Venues offering only feeding activities follow, with venues offering purely observational activities
receiving highest scores for the welfare conditions offered to their elephants.
Animal welfare condition scores according to offered elephant activity 1600
1400
1200
1000
800 Elephants 600
400
200
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Animal welfare condition score
Shows Saddled rides No-saddle rides Washing, no rides Feeding only Observation only
Figure 4: The relationship between average welfare condition scores and the activities offered at venues.
Average welfare condition score per activity 10 8.8 9
8
7 6.7
6
5 4.0 4 3.5
3
Animal welfare condition score 2
1 Shows Saddled rides Washing, bathing Observation only Activities offered
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Stereotypies and welfare conditions The assessment used in this study primarily includes provisional are involved in activities, we did not include active elephants when factors – factors in the elephant’s environment that affect its researching stereotypies. welfare. However, we also collected data on direct welfare Of the 1,824 elephants that were not in any activity during the indicators, such as behavioural abnormalities including assessment visit, 19% (343) were displaying stereotypies. This is an stereotypies. Stereotypic behaviour in wild animals is only found in improvement since 2015, where 30% of inactive elephants were captivity. It is usually an indicator for acute stress or a displaying stereotypies. This can possibly be explained by an manifestation of extended exposure to chronic stress or poor increase in mid-scoring venues in Thailand, which house almost welfare in the past, which can lead to chronic behaviour problems three quarters of elephants in tourism, and is discussed further in the if not addressed. Thailand specific results. Stereotypies are commonly caused by restraint, that may not We documented a clear correlation between the ratio of elephants allow the elephant to carry out its desired actions at a specific expressing stereotypies and the welfare scores for the venue in time. This in turn leads to frustration. which the elephants were kept (Figure 5). In venues with scores of Typical elephant stereotypic behaviour can involve repeatedly between 0 and 5, representing severely inadequate conditions, shifting weight from one side to the other, moving a few steps 27% (272) of elephants that were not engaged in a tourist activity forward and backward continuously, or bobbing the head. There expressed stereotypies. are also numerous other stereotypic behaviours. In venues with scores of 6-8, we still documented 12% (66) of Stereotypic behaviours are certainly not the only behavioural elephants with stereotypies. The ratio continues to decline with abnormality indicating welfare concerns, but others tend to be higher welfare scores, with just five elephants (2%) displaying more difficult to diagnose, especially in short observation times. stereotypies housed at venues with the highest scores of 9 and 10. Because stereotypic behaviours are supressed when elephants
Image: A young, underweight elephant tied up at a venue in Thailand. At this venue, 50% of the elephants demonstrated stereotypies including head-bobbing and pacing.
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Figure 5: Percentage of stereotyping elephants in all observed, non-active elephants. Lower welfare condition scores clearly show higher percentages of stereotypic behaviour problems, possibly indicating higher stress levels or discomfort. The percentage of stereotypies decrease as welfare condition scores increase.
% of stereotypes in all observed, non-active elephants
30% 27%
25%
20%
15% 12%
10% % of elephants
5% 2%
0% 0-5 6-8 9-10 Animal welfare condition score
In comparison, the various countries show similar scores in their elephant welfare conditions, when averaging all individual venue scores (Figure 6). All countries, except Cambodia, show average scores of between 4 and 5 points. Cambodia scores significantly higher, as of the 64 elephants identified, over a quarter (17 elephants) of those live in three venues scoring 8 or higher. Most other countries also featured at least one venue that reflected a growing recognition of implementing higher welfare standards and avoiding conventional elephant entertainment.
Figure 6: Average welfare condition scores of elephant venues by country.
10 9 8 7 6.6 6 6 6 5.4 5.57 4.7 5.07 5 4 3 2 Animal welfare condition score 1 0
Thailand India Nepal Cambodia Laos Sri Lanka Malaysia
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Thailand
Since our first research in Thailand in 2010, there have been As of January 2020, 70% of elephants were living in severely dramatic changes within the elephant tourism industry. Between inadequate conditions scoring 5 or below and 25% were living in 2010 and 2015, the number of elephants at Thai tourism venues improved medium welfare venues, scoring 6-8. Just 5% of has increased by 30% from 1,688 to 2,198. In the past five elephants were living in high welfare venues scoring 9-10. years, up until January 2020, this figure increased by an Our research over the past 10 years has recorded the changes in additional 27%. This means that in fewer than 10 years the the distribution of elephants in Thailand according to welfare number of elephants in the captive elephant tourism industry condition scores (Figure 7). Since 2010, there has been a 92% increased by 1,110 animals. This represents a 70% increase and increase in the number of elephants living in the highest scoring brings the total number of elephants at Thai venues to 2,7981. venues, from 75 to 144 elephants. Although this growth has Our research in Thailand identified 263 elephants below the age slowed in the last five years, between 2015 and 2020 the of five at the assessed tourism venues, which calculates to an number of elephants in the highest scoring venues still increased average of over 50 newborn elephants per year. This is an by 25%. increase in comparison to our findings from 2015 when approximately 30 calves were being born annually.
Figure 7: Number of captive tourism elephants in Thailand and the welfare conditions scores that they are kept at. Comparison of results from the 2010, 2015 and 2020 World Animal Protection studies.
Elephant welfare in tourism in Thailand: 2010, 2015, 2020 1000 900 854 859 800
700 660 639 604 600
500 440 371 Elephants 400 314 306 300 262 271 175 200 142 133 135 82 104 90 51 56 100 37 25 0 0 0 0 2 0 19 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Animal welfare condition score
2010 2015 2020
iii This does not include an additional 60 elephants housed in 10 venues which were identified but unable to be assessed.
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Movement away from elephant riding
Between 2010 and 2020, the number of elephant venues has 25% of all tourism elephants, compared to just 14% of elephants more than doubled, growing by a staggering 134%. In the last in 2015 and 9% in 2010. These are typically venues with a five years alone, venue numbers have increased by 64% from handful of elephants, offering washing and bathing or ‘Be a 150 assessed venues to 246. mahout’ opportunities. Most of this increase occurred in the group of medium welfare Venues offering elephant washing have seen an incredible venues scoring in the 6-8 points range regarding animal welfare increase in the past five years, more than tripling in numbers from conditions (Figure 8). They represent 43% of all venues and house 50 venues in 2015 to 161 venues in 2020.
Figure 8: Number of elephant venues in Thailand and their animal welfare condition scores as established by World Animal Protection in 2010, 2015 and 2020.
Elephant tourism venues in Thailand 2010, 2015 & 2020 70 66
60
50 50
41 39 39 40 36 33 31 Venues 30 25 24 23 20 20 14
9 10 9 10 8 4 4 5 3 2 3 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Animal welfare condition score
2010 2015 2020
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Many of the medium welfare venues are found in the north of The increase of tourist demand for ethical and ‘intimate’ elephant Thailand, around Chiang Mai, aside from several notable experiences might also explain the decrease in the average exceptions dotted around the country. The increase of these types number of elephants per venue. In 2010, the average number of of venues can be explained by the continuing growth of elephants per venue was 15, this decreased to 14 by 2015. As awareness of animal welfare, especially among younger of January 2020, the average number of elephants at all Thai travellers. Venues have recognised this awareness, which has led venues was 11. In venues scoring 5 or below, there was an to many of them labelling themselves ‘rescue centre’, ‘retirement average of 14 elephants per venue. place’, ‘sanctuary’, or ‘refuge’. This is despite continuing to offer When looking at mid-range venues scoring 5–7, however, this conventional commercial elephant tourism activities. average decreases to 6.7. This is these venues were trying to It is difficult for a tourist to know whether these labels are accurate provide more ’intimate’ experiences involving fewer elephants to – especially before booking a visit. In several venues labelled this entertain the same number of tourists. Some mid-range venues way our researchers observed several welfare concerns. These operated up to a dozen locations across which their 80+ included: frequent short chaining; separation of young calves and elephants were distributed. A positive aspect of some washing mothers; demanding elephant activity schedules, and no intention and bathing venues is that they tend to allow at least some of their to prevent elephant breeding – the core problem of elephant elephants to have social contact with each other. This addresses a captivity. crucial need of these highly social animals. Many of these venues also seemed to be trading their elephants The significant growth in the number of mid-range venues, and the very frequently. This meant there was no guarantee that their elephant numbers they hold highlights the adaptability of the elephants would actually benefit from improved conditions for the elephant tourism industry in meeting tourist demand for supposedly rest of their lives. more ethical elephant experiences.
Image: Tourists crowd around elephants during a mud-bathing activity at a ‘no riding’ venue. Washing and bathing venues like this still allow intensive contact between guests and the elephants, presenting concerns for the welfare of elephants and safety of visitors.
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Despite our research showing the trend towards better welfare Our study also positively shows that there is a 25% increase in the conditions at mid-range bathing and washing venues, these number of elephants at venues with scores of 9 or 10 compared interactions are only possible through cruel early training to obey to 2015. In January 2020, 144 elephants were kept at primarily commands. And at venues allowing direct interaction, mahouts observation-only venues. These venues met criteria that suggest must remain in relatively close control of their elephants to protect best captive conditions, while recognising that elephant needs the visitors’ safety. can only fully be met in the wild (Figure 7). Because direct contact activities must rely on traditional cruel This number includes venues that were putting considerable effort training, sustaining demand for such activities is clearly not a long- into consistently improving their care for their elephants. They term solution to ending commercial elephant captivity. Close emphasised elephant welfare before profit while generating interaction between visitors and elephants may also yield an money to continue running their venues to these higher standards. increased risk of injury for the visitors, especially with young Many of these venues were in keeping with our elephant-friendly elephants around. guidelines.
What is an elephant-friendly venue?
A true elephant-friendly venue is purely observational for visitors, where the safety of visitors and wellbeing of elephants reduce the need to constantly control the animals. The elephants are managed in humane ways through the mahout who allows a maximum of behavioural and spatial freedom. Elephant-friendly venues should also implement best-practice elephant management protocols. These can involve frequent health checks, adequate veterinary care, healthy amounts of exercise through incentivising movement, and adequate nutrition. They allow for social grouping of compatible elephants and try to provide access to natural habitat as much as possible to encourage expression of natural behaviours. These venues also provide a safer work-environment that allows for professional self-development of the venue’s mahouts. Importantly they prevent the breeding of elephants to address the principal problem of elephant captivity and focus their resources on the wellbeing of elephants already in the industry.
Image: Elephants at an elephant-friendly venue in Thailand. Here the elephants are free-roaming and have the opportunity to express a wide range of natural behaviours, including socialisation with other elephants.
A true elephant-friendly venue is purely observational for visitors, where the safety of visitors and wellbeing of elephants reduce the need to constantly control the animals.
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More elephants in the worst conditions These developments are encouraging and are having a direct Thankfully, our consumer attitude surveys show that attitudes positive effect on the welfare of the elephants in these improved towards animal welfare in China and other Asian countries are conditions. However, our research also shows that between changing to the positive as well. Several industry-leading travel 2010 and 2020, there was a dramatic 135% increase in the companies in China have joined our list of more than 250 travel number of elephants living in the very worst of conditions, scoring companies worldwide pledging to stop selling elephant rides and 3 or below. Since 2015 alone, there has been a 54% increase in instead offer humane alternatives. Our chapter in this report on the elephants living in this same scoring category. role of the travel industry offers more detail.
The 1,096 elephants we found at venues scoring 3 or under were The captive elephant tourism industry can only be gradually and housed in conventional riding and show venues. There they were successfully phased out if the demand for elephant entertainment chained for most of the day, often in inadequate shelters featuring decreases simultaneously with the reduction of captive, concrete ground or unhygienic conditions. They had little or no commercially used elephants. Although rising tourist numbers have interaction with other elephants and had to perform in strenuous led to higher numbers of elephants at low scoring venues, those and stressful activities. In these lowest scoring venues, circus-style tourists with a higher awareness of animal welfare have driven shows were frequent, with 56% (651) of show elephants living at real change. They have increased the proportion of elephants venues where shows were held more than three times per day. experiencing improved conditions (Figure 9). Forty percent (470) of show elephants lived at venues with two to three shows daily. By going further and supporting truly elephant-friendly venues, this will enable a real shift towards better conditions for the existing As in 2015, our research suggests that there is an increased elephants. It will also support efforts to gradually decrease the demand for intensive riding and show venues. This can be number of captive elephants in this industry. explained by an overall increase in the number of tourists, particularly from countries such as China, where animal welfare awareness is still lower.
Those tourists with a higher awareness of animal welfare have driven real change. They have increased the proportion of elephants experiencing improved conditions.
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Figure 9 : Comparing the number of elephants in Thailand, grouped by animal welfare condition scores. While the numbers of captive elephants continue to rise, our research shows a shift in the proportion of elephants from poor towards middle scoring conditions.
Number of Thai elephants by welfare condition score, 2010 – 2020 2500
2000 1946 1771
1500 1414 Elephants 1000
708
500 312 155 144 75 115 0 2010 2015 2020
5 or lower (severely inadequate conditions) 6 – 8 (improved conditions) 9 – 10 (best possible under captive conditions)
Distribution of elephants by welfare condition score
2010 2015 2020
5%
14%
81%
5 or lower (severely inadequate conditions) 6 – 8 (improved conditions) 9 – 10 (best possible under captive conditions)
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Other countries
India In 2005 and 2006 we funded research into the welfare of Of the 210 elephants, observed by our researchers, that were not elephants in India. This was conducted by Compassion Unlimited engaged in an activity, 42% (89) were kept on short chains of 3m Plus Action (CUPA) and Asian Nature Conservation Foundation or less. This severely affected their mobility. A further 30% (62) (ANCF). The findings highlighted severe welfare problems for were kept on chains between 3 and 15m long. most captive elephants in India. However, the exact numbers of elephants used specifically within tourism venues is unknown. For Overall the average welfare conditions of elephants in India are this research we used CUPA and ANCF’s data and our own comparable to other countries we assessed, it is important to note desktop and in-field research to estimate that we assessed the distribution of elephants across the welfare conditions (Figure approximately 75% of India’s captive elephants working 10). While 30% (153) of elephants live in venues scoring just 2 or specifically in tourism.12 In total, we assessed 21 tourism venues 3, 31% (160) of elephants lived in medium welfare venues housing 509 elephants. scoring 7. The relatively high number of elephants living at venues with this score is due to four venues based in or around national Captive elephants are kept by the state governments in forest parks and reserves. camps, zoos, or some temples. They are also kept by circuses, or by private owners using them for tourism, begging or other The elephants at these venues are owned by the forestry purposes. In India, we found that 44% (225) of the elephants department and have lives that would be considered unusual in were kept in severely inadequate conditions, while 51% of the Thailand. While they may offer rides for one or two hours a day, elephants were housed in medium welfare venues. Just 4% of the the rest of the time the elephants are not used to entertain tourists. assessed elephants that were accessible for tourists – those 23 Instead, many spend their days with their mahouts in the forest, living at the Wildlife SOS Elephant Conservation and Care while some are used in anti-poaching programmes. Centre – lived in higher welfare conditions. Some may be chained on long chains for periods of the day, but Two additional elephants live in high welfare conditions at the our researchers found there were ample opportunities for them to Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (WRRC) in Bangalore, express natural behaviour. Elephants at these venues could where our researcher visited upon special request. The centre is socialise, forage, mud bathe and on occasion mix with wild not open to the public to minimise stress to the animals, so WRRC elephants, all aspects which would improve their welfare, despite elephants have not been included in our statistics rides being offered.
Figure 10: Welfare condition scores for elephants in tourism in India.
180 160 160
140
120 105 100
80 66 Elephants 60 48 38 35 40 34 23 20 0 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Animal welfare condition score
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Regarding activities available to tourists, our research found more than 70% of the elephants were housed at venues offering rides. Saddles were used at more than 86% of riding venues; 8% of elephants were used in washing and bathing activities, but no riding. Just 2% of elephants lived at observation-only venues, where no interaction between the guests and elephants was permitted. In India, no elephants are made to perform in shows as part of their daily routines. There were no venues offering washing and bathing activities without also offering rides, a very different situation to that found in Thailand.
Nepal In Nepal, most elephant tourism venues are located near the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park. Our research found the number of tourism elephants in Nepal has decreased by 8% between 2015 and 2020, from 155 to 143 elephants. In contrast, the number of venues has increased by 53% in the last five years, from 36 to 55 venues. While the number of venues has increased, the average number of elephants per venue has decreased from 4.3 to 2.6 during the same period. Additionally, Image: Government-owned elephants at a tiger reserve in India. Although some of the number of adult males has halved since 2015 from 22 to 11. these elephants will offer limited rides, venues in Indian reserves and national parks typically offer improved conditions when compared to riding venues in Thailand. We also found that between 2015 and 2020, the percentage of elephants living in severely inadequate conditions decreased, and those living in improved conditions at medium welfare venues increased (Figure 11).
Figure 11: The percentage of elephants in Nepal according to welfare condition scores in 2015 and 2020.
100% 8% 8% 90% 17% 80% 23% 70% 60% 50%
40% 75% 69% 30%
Percentage of elephants 20% 10% 0% 2015 2020 Animal welfare condition score ratios
0–5 – Severely inadequate conditions 6–8 – Improved conditions 9–10 – Best possible under captive conditions
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Unlike Thailand, shows were not offered at Nepalese venues. We found improved conditions for 48% (90) captive elephants at Instead riding was the predominant activity with 71% (101) of medium scoring venues. This seems positive, but there are 2% elephants being used for rides. Of the venues offering rides, 83% fewer elephants living in improved conditions compared to the (40) of the venues offered rides lasting one to two hours and all 2015 results. use saddles. There were four observation-only venues housing 13 The percentage of elephants living in the best captive conditions elephants, or 8% of the total Nepalese elephants. Two of the had not changed since 2015 with 28% (52) elephants living in observation-only venues – Tiger Tops and Association Moey – high-welfare conditions at a single venue, Elephant Transit Home. scored animal welfare conditions scores of 9 or 10. Here there is a clear policy against elephant entertainment and There are two other observation-only initiatives trying to provide the ultimate aim is to reintroduce their elephants into the natural better alternatives for their elephants which also scored well habitat. As in 2015, this Elephant Transit Home was the highest above the national average. There were no venues where scoring Sri Lankan venue; its population has increased by 13% feeding was the only activity. Instead, the 28 elephants at venues from 46 to 52 over the past five years. where feeding took place were also available for selfies posing which required close contact. In terms of venue size, Sri Lanka is home to two large venues where 75% (141) of the elephants are housed. The other venues
have on average 4.2 elephants per venue. Riding was again the Sri Lanka most popular activity, with 62% (8) of venues offering rides. In Sri Lanka, we assessed all 13 venues that housed 188 While in Nepal all riding venues used saddles, in Sri Lanka 95% elephants. This is an increase of 13% or 22 elephants since 2015 (35) of the elephants at riding venues were ridden bareback. when 166 elephants were kept at 12 venues. More elephants – Shows were offered at two venues, housing 6% (12) of the total 46 (24%) – are now living in severely inadequate conditions elephants in Sri Lanka. Eighteen percent (33) of elephants at 62% scoring 5 or lower compared to 2015 when there were 36 (8) of venues also take part in washing activities. All riding venues, (22%) living in these conditions(Figure 12). except for one, also offered washing as an option.
Figure 12: The percentage of elephants in Sri Lanka according to welfare condition scores in 2015 and 2020. Although the ratio of elephants living in high welfare conditions has remained the same, there has been a marginal increase in the ratio of elephants living in severely inadequate conditions.
100% 90% 28% 28% 80% 70% 60% 50% 51% 48% 40% 30%
Percentage of elephants 20% 10% 22% 24% 0% 2015 2020 Animal welfare condition score ratios
0–5 – Severely inadequate conditions 6–8 – Improved conditions 9–10 – Best possible under captive conditions
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Laos
In Laos, we assessed 105 elephants across 11 venues. The Laos Elephant Conservation Centre and Mandalao Elephant number of venues has increased by 83% (6) and the number of Conservation are predominantly observation-only venues. Their elephants by 78% (46) elephants since 2015. We identified two 39 elephants roamed freely across large areas of land, with additional venues, one outside Vientiane and one in Boten, but ample opportunities for foraging, socialising and expressing were not able to visit them in time during our research. natural behaviour. We found 48% (50) elephants living in severely inadequate In Laos, 61% (60) of the elephants were used at riding venues conditions and 15% (16) living in improved conditions at medium and 83% (50) of those used saddles. Of the seven venues scoring conditions. Thirty seven percent(39) of elephants lived in offering riding, six also offer washing. Fifty seven percent (60) of two high welfare venues. elephants were used for washing activities and 70% of those (42) Over the past five years, the distribution of elephants across were also ridden. Four elephants (4%) at a single venue were different scoring welfare groups has changed. We found more used in shows. elephants living in better conditions, and fewer living in the worst (Figure 13).
Figure 13: The percentage of elephants in Laos according to welfare condition scores, 2015 and 2020.
100% 90% 15% 80% 37% 15% 70% 60% 15% 50% 40% 69% 30%
Percentage of elephants 48% 20% 10% 0% 2015 2020 Animal welfare condition score group
0–5 – Severely inadequate conditions 6–8 – Improved conditions 9–10 – Best possible under captive conditions
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Cambodia
In Cambodia, we assessed 64 elephants at 10 venues. We housed at Elephant Valley Project and the Cambodia Wildlife found an increase of 150% (6) in venues and 78% (28) of Sanctuary. Here, activities are observation only, aside from one elephants since 2015. Thirty eight percent (24) of elephants were allowance of protected contact feeding, where the elephants are living in severely inadequate conditions, a decrease from 67% free to leave at any point. (24) of elephants in 2015 (Figure 14). Riding was offered in 30% (3) of venues in Laos that housed 42% Forty two percent (27) were living in medium scoring venues with (27) of elephants. All the riding venues were using saddles. Only improved conditions. This was different from 2015, where one venue housing four elephants (6%) offered shows. Thirty six elephants were distributed only between the lowest and the percent (23) of elephants were used in washing activities, highest welfare score groups, without any middle-scoring venues. however only 17% (4) of these were also ridden. In 2020, 20% (13) of elephants were living in venues with high welfare condition scores of 9 or 10. These 13 elephants were
Figure 14: The percentage of elephants in Cambodia according to welfare condition scores in 2015 and 2020.
100% 90% 20% 33% 80% 70% 0% 60% 42% 50% 40% 67% 30%
Percentage of elephants 20% 38% 10% 0% 2015 2020 Animal welfare condition score group
0–5 – Severely inadequate conditions 6–8 – Improved conditions 9–10 – Best possible under captive conditions
Image: Guests observe free-roaming elephants at a venue in Cambodia.
Malaysia In Malaysia, we assessed 30 elephantsiv at the sole identified elephant tourism venue. This mid-ranking government run facility offers a show, elephant washing, feeding and selfie activities daily. Although the elephants have access to a large enclosure as well as multiple visits to the forest, they spend much of the day on a tight schedule, committed to involuntary entertainment activities.
iiv The number of elephants reported by venue staff varied – 30 was the most common number provided.
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Documenting the common methods of been developed. In the eyes of some captive-elephant tourism elephant training in Thailand proponents, this allows for the continuation of current tourism practices – a statement that we dispute with the new evidence This chapter focusses on the initial and cruel training of young outlined below. elephants. This training is the foundation laid to enable the Between November 2018 and January 2020, the most use of captive elephants for interaction with people. commonly used training methods in Thailand were documented Separating elephants from their mothers at young age and by a person who followed several of the most prominent trainer training them with cruel methods is widely accepted as common teams in Thailand during their training of several elephant calves. practice in Asia. These trainers have a reputation for and long history of elephant training. This leads to their senior trainers often being contracted to These controversial practices have been associated with the train elephants in China and South Korea. For example, one of development of post-traumatic stress disorders52,53 in elephants the senior trainers was involved in training African elephants and increased mortality of calves even years after the training as imported from Zimbabwe to China in 2019. compared to wild elephants61. Yet, documentation of the actual practices used by elephant communities is rare. Harrowing This trainer community trains the largest number of elephant calves footage of the intensely cruel training of a juvenile elephant over in Thailand each year –approximately 30-40 elephant calves per 15 years ago led to many in the elephant industry stating that year, either on site or elsewhere in Thailand. these methods are outdated, not acceptable today and that softer All training stages were captured on film to enable an objective methods are used. and truthful documentation of the most common training methods. This chapter is focussing at the initial training of elephants to gain The identities of all trainers and helpers was protected by blurring control that is the foundation for any captive elephant to be used their faces. for interaction with people. The documentation includes the training of eight calves and one All day-to-day handling methods used on captive elephants adult male who was returned for a ‘retraining’ as he had been involved in close contact with tourists are based on the commands causing problems (Table 2). Several more calves were scheduled and tools established in this initial training. for training, but arrived after the period of this documentation. Nonetheless, more than 30 hours of footage makes this the most In the last few years it’s been claimed that the cruel training of comprehensive documentation of elephant training to date. elephants is not needed anymore as a ‘softer’ training method has
Table 2: Elephant calves and their training ages as recorded through the documentation.
Elephant ID Gender Age in years at begin of training Documented
1 Female 2 Yes 2 Female 2.5 Yes 3 Female 2 Yes 4 Male 1.5 Yes 5 Female 2 Yes 6 Female 3 Yes 7 Male 2 Yes 8 Male 2 Yes 9 Female 2 No 10 Male 2 No 11 Male 14 No 12 (retraining) Male 15 Yes
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Separation from their mother The methods used by the different trainers differed slightly from each other. They depend on the individual trainer’s experience or The first stage of training involves elephant calves being characters. However, in principle all elephants went through separated from their mothers. In the eight documented training similar stages. cases this occurred at an average age of 2.1 years and was highly traumatic for both mothers and calves. According to the person that documented the training, most trainers that were accompanied were good natured people. They did not apply cruelty for the sake of it; they saw it as a necessity to ensure safe handling of elephants in tourism. In a separate study In the wild, female calves are cared for by their on mahouts in Myanmar, 60% pitied the elephants undergoing mothers for four to five years and supervised for such training, while 37% felt neutral about it.67 several more years. Female calves remain in the The trainers were family people, that cared well for their other mother herd all their lives and form close animals, such as pet dogs and livestock. They consider training relationships with the other family members. Male elephants a profession that has been part of their community for calves tend to leave the herd between 10 and 15 many hundreds of years. There is a distinct pride in this tradition years of age.50 and in their reputation of producing elephants that can be safely used for any purpose. Separation begins with the mother chained securely at her resting The trainers gauged the level of training intensity required for spot and the calf roaming free. The trainers then use an adult each individual elephant’s character, to avoid applying overly elephant trained specifically for the task of separating the calf cruel methods when not needed. Some trainers had their family from the mother. The calf is secured to the separation elephant join the training. This was stated to provide some comfort to the and briskly led away from the mother. calf and to participate in spiritual ceremonies to ask for safe- keeping of the elephant and their own health. While the calves seemed at this stage to comply easily, the mothers showed extreme distress. For some mothers this was the However, such efforts do not justify the inherent cruelty of the first experience of separation from their babies, others had training methods documented here that are commonly used in experienced it with two other calves. Thailand. Also, some trainer individuals seemed less compassionate or patient and were quicker to resort to more The mothers attempted to charge against the people surrounding extreme measures to gain submission of the elephant. her, flaring their ears and trumpeting, while trying to rip their chains. In one instance a mother was able to rip her chains and
run. Reportedly, this caused a dangerous situation as she frantically searched for her calf before mahouts were able to restrain her again. The trainers stated that in some cases they had to chain mothers for up to two months before they would stop The trainers stated that in some screaming and searching for their babies. cases they had to chain mothers Following the separation, the calves are led to a different location. They are then securely tied down with chains that only allow for for up to two months before minimal movement and sometimes prevent them from lying down. This exhausts the calves. they would stop screaming and During this stage, the calves showed severe distress as they faced an entirely new environment, with no mother to comfort them, and searching for their babies. were restrained to the ground. The calves reacted differently to this distress by screaming loudly, tearing at their chains, rolling on the floor, or swaying. The trainers left them chained in isolation for periods from several days up to two weeks to exhaust themselves and to adjust to being alone. During that time only the trainers would bring food and water. This meant calves would start to forge a dependency on them.
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Establishing dominance sticks. During this training, the elephants usually had their front and back legs shackled together which only allowed hobbled During the second stage, which could lasts between two to five days, the training aims to establish dominance over the calf. This is movement, or they were tied on a shorter chain of 2–3m to stop the crucial stage in the opinion of the trainers. They believe that if them escaping the hooks and sticks. an elephant understands and accepts the dominance of trainers Very initial walks outside of the training area would also be while it is young and relatively weak it will ensure better undertaken to test the submission of each elephant. compliance of the elephant once it’s grown to full size. So, this stage requires submission of the calf to the trainers, getting it to understand that not submitting incurs pain and that this pain comes Basic commands and riding from the hook or sticks that the mahouts use to control their The third stage involves reinforcing the basic commands, having elephants. the calf accept a rider on its back, and starting to learn basic This is the cruellest stage of the training process. Depending on tricks and more advanced commands. The riding is usually trained the calf’s nature the trainers choose to carry it out with the with one mahout climbing on the back of the calf and several elephant brought into the ‘crush’: two heavy, wooden frames others preventing it from escaping. Wrong behaviour continues to between which the calf would be tied on ropes so that it cannot be punished, while submission to commands is rewarded by move in any direction. Elephants deemed easier to handle will be words or claps with hands. chained and roped against a strong wooden frame or post Eventually, calves are introduced to road traffic by being hobbled instead. with shackles and surrounded by several mahouts with hooks that Next, trainers start touching and prodding the restrained elephant leave no space to escape. Advanced commands, such as picking calf with their hands, sticks and metal hooks. Initially, calves recoil up the hook or sandals of the mahouts, are trained through an or react aggressively against the trainers. This leads to additional extremely repetitive process. It involves the trainer forcing the prodding and hitting. required trunk movement by hand, then requesting the calf to do the same movement. The calf will be punished until successful In many cases during the documentation the elephants were when it is rewarded. being hit and scraped repeatedly with the sharp metal ends of the hooks or sticks with nails until their entire foreheads were bloody. Most trainers said that once the calves understood what was This only stopped when an elephant succumbed by giving up its required of them, teaching more advanced tricks and commands defensive behaviour. Signs of submissive behaviour were became comparatively quick and easy. For example, after this rewarded with a clap or with food. stage elephants can be taught to juggle hula-hoop rings or to stand on its hind legs for circus show within a day. Elephant At the end of each one to two-hour session any blood would be owners decide how much training they want their elephants to washed off the calf’s head and body, and food and water would receive. According to the documenter, most trainers had a ‘menu’ be provided. Each calf usually endured two sessions per day. of how much the different stages of training would cost and Basic commands such as ‘follow’ or ‘back up’ were gradually owners could pick and choose (Table 3). introduced with trainers prompting and prodding using hooks or
Table 3: Training items and prices as offered to elephant owners by the trainers.
Training stage A Commands and tricks Price
Separation and control Ensuring submission of calf and understanding of the hook and stick 5,000 – 10,000 THB Basic commands Come, stay, follow, stop, left/right 1,000 – 5,000 THB Advanced commands Pick up, bow/greet, sit, swing/dance 5,000 – 10,000 THB Show commands Standing on two legs, painting, hula-hoop, football 5,000 – 10,000 THB
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Throughout this entire process the trainers are the only connection One adult bull returned for his third retraining. The trainers to the rest of the world for the elephant calf. They provide food, expected it to be a difficult case, but after one day of tying the water, wash them, reward them or provide some comforting bull in a crush and testing his behaviour they concluded that “the words. Despite the cruelty the calves undergo, there is no other elephant is too clever”. They felt he understood that he needed to choice for them but to eventually accept the trainers as their new comply with the trainers because he knew about the process, but masters and caretakers. Some of the trainers seemed to establish that outside of this environment he might chose to not do so. a seemingly good relationship with their trained calf. The trainers explained that this retraining of adult elephants is It is the opinion of the trainers that if a calf has been trained to relatively common and they tended to blame the owners for not entirely submit in the first place, it will require less punishment in the managing their elephant properly. In the trainers’ opinions it is too future. However, during the documentation of the calf trainings, dangerous to not use the strict commands and tools established adult elephants of 14 and 15 years were returned to the trainers during the initial training when working with elephants if the after being at tourism camps for a few years. These elephants had elephants are to be used around people. grown problematic and either attacked their owners or didn’t Training methods differ in other areas of Thailand or Asia and, allow safe handling. Consequently, the owners requested a depending on the nature of the elephant and the trainer, might ‘retraining’ of their elephants to reinforce the initial training and re- include less or more cruel methods. But the methods we describe establish control. above have been documented to outline the common practices of the best-known trainer community in Thailand.
Image: As well as training the elephant to be ‘safe’ for humans to handle, ‘cute’ show tricks such as painting can be taught.
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No alternatives unless demand changes “What motivates an individual animal at any point in time is a fluid mix of a lot of different motives and its response will be driven by In recent years, efforts have been made to establish a training method that is often being referred to as ‘positive training’. Despite the totality of the impact of those motives/reinforcers. Food is a the name, it is important to distinguish this from training methods good strong reinforcer. So is avoiding a mild aversive stimulus as based on ‘positive reinforcement’v, which are entirely cooperative. well as a warm pat on the head. However, so is the lightening in the sky, the snake in the grass, the scent of a sex partner, or the vi The misleadingly named ‘positive training’ is based on aversive presence of another animal that it has issues with. methods derived from horse training. It aims to avoid the worst cruelty of the usual elephant training by establishing dominance “In more cases than not, animals ‘being naughty’ are animals through more subtle, aversive techniques in combination with responding to other reinforcers that directly compete with the rewards. This could be done, for example, through gradually trainer’s reinforcement scheme and objectives which the trainer increasing pressure on a body part of the calf until it complies to failed to see. Trainers have far less control than one may think. avoid the discomfort or pain. However, while this training may be “The use of aversive stimuli for command and control in animal less painful than that inflicted during traditional training, the training is the most reliable form in terms of getting the desired job principle of establishing dominance through discomfort will done historically. It won’t work all the time, but it allows techniques continue to lead to psychological discomfort. To date, very few to deal with all levels of loss of control.” elephants have been trained solely through this technique as ‘Positive training’ may be well intended and help reduce the elephant owners seem to remain sceptical about its reliability. initial physical cruelty of training elephant calves the usual way, There is no doubt about the expertise and skill of the trainer that but it will not significantly improve an elephant’s quality of life for introduced this type of training. The intent clearly is good and it the remainder of its life in captivity. If used in commercial tourism shows that young elephants can easily be trained with less force. and to interact with visitors, an elephant will still face the same Yet, there are concerns that this training will not ensure sufficient need for control, restraints, limited social interactions, unnatural control over adult elephants intending to kill someone or that react environments and punishment when not complying. aggressively in stressful situations. There is also a fundamental Some elephant owners may choose to add a conventional difference between relying on softer training for flight animals, training after such ‘softer’ training to achieve sufficient compliance such as horses or other domesticated species, and wild animal by their elephants. This enables them to still benefit from the species. Elephants, for example, even when born in captivity, marketing bonus of being able to say that their elephant was retain wild instincts and have considerably more strength and a trained using a ‘softer’ method. high intellect. There is a clear risk in branding such training as a solution to the Tim Desmond, one of the most renowned animal trainers with inherent cruelty and inhumanity of keeping captive elephants in a decades of experience in training of marine and terrestrial wild commercial industry. Nothing could be further from the truth. As animals in zoos and aquariums gave his response to the long as mahouts and tourists are required to directly interact with proposed alternative training techniquesvii: elephants there will be the need for cruel control methods to “Softer forms of training may work most of the time, but when they ensure relative safety. And even then, it is a sad reality that while break down the results are catastrophic. There are no protocols such practices remain, mahouts and tourists will be injured and for handling aggression other than to let the elephant run off. sometimes killed. There is no solution when a panicked animal runs off in a The only solution is phase-out of the demand for direct tourist crowded city street and starts hurting people. If a mahout has to interactions with elephants. Until this happens elephants should be confront true aggression or control panic with these tools, he will kept in conditions where a loss of control of the elephant is have to use the same restraint and dominance (as well as any minimised and does not endanger people. positive options) to gain the upper hand as in conventional training.”
v Positive reinforcement uses positive experiences to reward wanted behaviour. It is entirely based on cooperative behaviour of the animal and control can’t be guaranteed. In zoos positive reinforcement training in elephants is only used in combination with protected contact environments, where keepers would not be at risk of injury in case of a loss of control. vi Aversive training methods are based on creating discomfort or pain in response to an unwanted behaviour or to trigger a wanted behaviour. They are the most classical form of training that often involves physical punishment. vii Pers comm., 2020
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Image: Elephants perform circus-style tricks at a venue in Thailand.
Socio-economic study of Thai mahouts
Mahouts are traditionally the caretakers of captive elephants. To fully understand the situation of Thailand’s mahouts, we worked Sometimes they own the elephant, but most commonly they are with the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Chiang employed by an elephant owner to look after it. The mahout Mai University. Together we undertook the first comprehensive practice is thousands of years old and is underpinned by a wealth research on the socio-economic situation of mahouts working in of knowledge about captive elephants and their management. elephant camps across Thailand. Mahouts have a crucial role in the welfare of captive elephants. Two hundred mahouts were randomly selected from 80 elephant The mahout’s character, experience and knowledge of his camps situated in the top six elephant tourism regions in Thailand. elephant have a huge influence on the day-to-day life of their The camps were categorised as small, medium or large, elephant. depending on the number of elephants, and a representative Traditional mahout practices have often been associated with number of mahouts was interviewed from each category. spiritual procedures aimed to ensure not upsetting the spirits of We requested permission to interview mahouts before doing so elephants and praying for their and the mahouts’ safety and and any camps/venues that requested not to be involved were health. In modern times, this traditional role of mahouts has more removed from the study and another camp of equal size selected. and more disappeared through the profit-driven nature of commercial captive elephant tourism. While traditional mahouts All mahouts were interviewed face to face in Thai language at can still be found, todays captive tourism elephant industry is their place of work by the researchers. The interviews contained increasingly based on non-traditional workers that receive a short quantitative questions and more semi-structured qualitative training in handling an elephant. interviews. All interviews were recorded and later analysed. Through our visits to hundreds of elephant camps we encountered anecdotal stories of mahouts not receiving adequate training to safely work with elephants. We also found that some had little history of working with elephants, and others were experiencing inadequate living and working conditions.
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Findings The findings revealed that elephants are not the only ones mahouts previously assigned to care for them. It appeared likely suffering in low welfare wildlife entertainment venues - mahouts that they would have more mahouts in the future. across Thailand are also being taken advantage of. They Changes occur when a mahout decides to change jobs, when an experience low pay for a high-risk job, and many suffer injuries elephant owner may want to hire a different mahout, or in tragic and have little financial security. cases, a mahout gets killed or severely injured by his elephant. A A mahout’s job is dangerous, but the compensation they receive new mahout assigned to an elephant creates a stressful and for their hard work is minimal. The average monthly salary is dangerous situation for both. around US$270. This means mahouts must rely heavily on The hardships and risks experienced by mahouts lead to them inconsistent tourist tips, which on average are US$200 per reflecting on their livelihood critically. When asked what mahout per month. Housing provided by employers is often basic, occupation they ideally would like their children to work in, only and most (84%) of mahouts do not receive any annual paid 12.5% said they would want their children to become mahouts. If holiday from their employer. specifically prompted if they would want their child to be a Economically, mahouts are very vulnerable; 38.5% have no mahout, only one in four (26.7%) said yes. This suggests many savings. This leaves them unable to plan for their future and mahouts would like their children to have more secure and safer heavily dependent on low salary employment. We found that employment than they do. 31% of interviewed mahouts had been sick or injured due to their Interestingly, many of the findings of our study in Thailand echoed work, and of those almost half (48%) were still in pain from their trends identified in a similar study on mahouts’ attitudes and injuries when interviewed. experience in Myanmar. Mahout experience was found to be in Sustaining injuries while working as a mahout is expected, and decline, the mahouts were becoming younger, their employment most sick or injured mahouts (62.9%) believe this will happen to in the profession was short-lived, and job attitudes less positive them again in the future. Despite the inherent danger in their work, decreasing.67 In Myanmar only between 26-29% of mahouts most (70.5%) receive no medical insurance from their employer. thought their children would become mahouts. Rather than a valued, traditional skill, mahoutship has become It is critical to address the disadvantageous situation of mahouts in more of a labourer role. Many mahouts took up the job because Thailand today. They need to receive the recognition they they could not find alternative employment or believed it would be deserve and be equipped with knowledge to manage elephants an easy job. Seventy four per cent of mahouts had other jobs more humanely. before starting as a mahout. They had worked mostly within Enabling mahouts to find more secure and safer employment at farming or as general labourers. elephant-friendly venues, or in the longer- term opening up More than 50% of mahouts interviewed had no formal education opportunities away from mahoutship is crucial. It is an essential or were only educated to primary education level; this limited their step in the transition to create better lives for elephants and knowledge and ability to find alternative employment. The second mahouts by gradually moving away from using captive elephants biggest motivator, in becoming a mahout was their inability to find for commercial tourism. another job, attributed to their lack of education. Encouragingly, the biggest motivator to become a mahout was their love of elephants. Image: A young mahout poses on his elephant calf at a venue in Thailand. More than 90% of mahouts interviewed had received less than six months training while just over a half of the mahouts (56.8%) interviewed had received only a month’s. The lack of comprehensive mahout training, particularly the training of just one month, puts both mahouts, and tourists interacting with elephants under their supervision, at serious risk of injury. While the image of mahouts is often romanticised, suggesting that a mahout will provide life-long care for ‘his’ elephant, our research paints a much more sober and pragmatic picture. We found that of the elephants under the control of the interviewed mahouts, 87% already had one to three, sometimes more,
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Tourist attitudes, motivations and behaviour
Since 2014 we have been commissioned two-yearly, representative public surveys to better understand tourist attitudes, behaviours and decision-influencing factors of tourists regarding wildlife encounters on their holidays. We commissioned global surveys of more than 12,000 respondents from KANTAR TNS. The data was collected online and weighted to be representative by age, gender and region within each country. Fourteen countries were included in 2014 and 12 in 2017 and 2019. Global totals are based solely on the 12 countries included across all years for comparability.
Table 4: Countries included in the global surveys since 2014 and number of interviews in each.
Country Interviews 2014 Interviews 2016 Interviews 2019
Denmark 1,050 1,023 1,012
Germany 1,050 1,034 1,051
Netherlands 1,015 1,049 1,014
Sweden 1,030 1,012 1,021
UK 1,044 1,056 1,044
China 1,020 1,047 1,043
India 1,050 1,007 1,019
Thailand 1,008 1,054 1,051
Canada 1,001 1,050 1,016
USA 1,035 1,004 1,050
Australia 1,039 1,020 1,009
New Zealand 509 – –
Brazil 1,039 1,022 1,032
South Africa 503 – –
Global 12,381 12,378 12,362
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We also conducted specific and separate surveys of tourists in Thailand, the global hotspot for captive elephant-based tourism. There were more than 2,800 elephants working in the industry and 39.8 million tourists visiting the country in 2019. Surveys of between 1,748 to 2,501 tourists were conducted, every two years. The tourists were split into representative samples of each of the top nationalities travelling to Thailand. A representative sample of Thai nationals was also included to understand the domestic tourist trade. Two companies – RapidAsia (2014) and ABN Impact (2016,2019) were commissioned with data collection. All interviews were conducted in person using a tablet-based survey in tourist hotspots across the country. Interview languages were English, Thai, Russian, South Korean, Japanese, Malaysian, German and Chinese.
Table 5: Number of interviews of tourists in Thailand from each nationality since 2014.
Country Interviews 2014 Interviews 2016 Interviews 2019
Thailand 203 210 210
China 221 156 154
Malaysia 163 154 153
Russia 148 150 153
Japan 179 153 153
South Korea 145 150 153
India 175 151 153
Singapore 139 151 153
United Kingdom 213 154 153
Australia 163 156 153
Canada - 150 153
Denmark - 150 153
Germany - 155 153
Netherlands - 154 153
Sweden - 153 153
United States - 154 153
Total 1,748 2,501 2,500
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The 2019 survey interviewed representatives from15 of the key Global public attitudes and motivators for wildlife tourism visiting nationalities. These nationalities accounted for 27 million Much work is needed to increase understanding about the tourists, or 71% of the total number of 38.2 million tourists that wildlife entertainment industry and its impacts on the animals visited Thailand in 2018. involved. Some 39% of people interviewed in 2019 still either have no opinion on, or believe that animals do not suffer when Table 6: 2018 Tourism arrivals of surveyed nationalities. trained for entertainment purposes. Source: Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports- 2018 Almost half of respondents (45%) either agreed with, or did not Arrival Data. have an opinion on the statement that using wild animals in 1 China 10,625,167 entertainment helps protect wild animals. These beliefs were highest in India, Thailand, China, the USA and Australia. 2 Malaysia 4,042,998 Motivations for participating in wildlife activities further highlight the dissonance between beliefs and behaviour. The main driver 3 Korea 1,785,147 for taking part in activities involving captive wild animals is, 4 Japan 1,642,712 according to participants’ responses, the love they have for animals (42%). Other key reasons cited were, to have fun (34%), 5 India 1,562,878 and for the enjoyment of children (29%). These figures suggest a lack of understanding, specifically about 6 Russia 1,466,457 the training process and living conditions of wild animals used in the tourism entertainment industry. 7 Singapore 1,168,112 Encouragingly however, elephant riding significantly declined in 8 USA 1,096,177 acceptability globally by 12% since 2014, with now 6 in 10 people finding riding an elephant unacceptable. And this positive 9 United Kingdom 954,404 trend is not just showing in countries within Europe, or Canada and Australia, where people might expect it most. 10 Germany 872,185 Only 37% of Chinese tourists agreed that elephant riding is 11 Australia 802,234 acceptable in 2019. This was an 11% drop from 2014 and is below the global average. Chinese tourists represent 26% of 12 Sweden 304,206 Thailand’s tourist arrivals.
13 Canada 252,763 Attitudes and behaviours of tourists in Thailand 14 Netherlands 226,618 The results of the face-to-face survey confirmed the findings of the 15 Denmark 170,044 global poll. In Thailand, as they have globally, entertainment activities involving wild animals associated with poor welfare are slowly becoming less popular with visitors to the country. In 2019, only 28% of tourists undertook or planned an elephant ride. This is a 12% drop in participation compared to 2016, when elephant riding was the most popular wildlife tourism activity in Thailand.
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Figure 15: Percent of surveyed people that have taken an elephant ride in Thailand on the current holiday or on previous visits within the last three years. Tourists by nationality having undertaken an elephant ride in 2016 vs 2019
Danish tourists were among the nationalities visiting elephant rides Thai (7%) and Indian tourists (8%) are among the nationalities that (27%) and shows (31%) the most (Figure 15). However, ride elephants the least in Thailand. However, Thai domestic considering tourist arrival data in Thailand, Danish tourists tourists remain a potentially significant market. In 2018, Thai represent a comparatively small number of visitors annually. domestic tourists accounted for around 168 million tourism trips in Consequently they have not represented a significant number of Thailand. the total number of elephant rides taken. It is difficult to translate the number of trips into the number of For example, in 2018, 170,000 Danish tourists visited Thailand, annual domestic tourists. However, we can assume that due to the which when extrapolated would represent around 45,900 large number of domestic trips, Thai tourists are significant elephant rides. Although the percentage of Chinese tourists taking consumers of elephant rides. Other Asian nationalities – South elephant rides is lower (23%) than Danish tourists (27%), the Korean (15%) and Malaysian (15%) – also represent a fair share number and impact of elephant-riding Chinese tourists is of the elephant ride market. enormous. For example, 10.6 million Chinese tourists to Thailand accounts for 2.44 million elephant rides. Chinese tourists are the biggest consumer group of elephant riders in Thailand. Since 2012, the largest number of tourist arrivals from a single country to Thailand are from China; arrival numbers have continued to increase since then. From 2.7 million Chinese tourist arrivals in 2012 numbers increased almost five 10.6 million Chinese tourists to times to 10.6 million in 2018. Thailand accounts for 2.44 Chinese tourists visiting Thailand have shown a significant positive shift in not just attitude, but also in behaviour towards elephant million elephant rides. rides. From 2016 to 2019, there has been a decrease of 13% in Chinese tourists taking part in elephant rides (23%) compared to 2016.
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Outside Asia, Russians, British, American and Australian tourists In 2019, 30% of tourists said they had attended an elephant also account for a significant number of elephant rides taken. show or were planning to do so, as opposed to 36% in 2016. The number of people watching elephant shows in Thailand, Shows are popular among Thais and Danish (31%), Indian (24%), significantly dropped between 2016 and 2019; with 6% fewer British (23%), Australians (22%), Canadian (20%), Chinese and tourists participating than in 2016. American tourists (18%). (Figure 16)
Figure 16: Percent of surveyed people that have watched elephants perform in shows in Thailand on the current holiday or on previous visits within the last three years. Tourists by nationality having watched an elephant show with elephants doing tricks 2016 vs 2019
It is worth noting the strong decrease (26%) in Chinese tourists Interestingly, in Thailand we see the same trend as in the global watching elephant shows since 2016. The number of visitors poll. While fewer people visited elephant shows and elephant coming to Thailand via tour operators also appears to have fallen, rides, our research showed an increase (+4%) in tourists claiming even among Chinese tourists (47% in 2016 vs 35% in 2019). This to have witnessed elephants being treated cruelly in Thailand suggests an increase in independent travellers. This in turn could (15%) since 2014. This again could mean that tourists are more explain the overall decrease, particularly of Chinese tourists, in aware of animal welfare matters and more readily identify animal participation in both elephant rides and shows. Tourists travelling cruelty. via tour operators showed a higher likelihood of participation in these activities.
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Visitor profile and motivations The bigger picture
According to the results of this survey, there is no typical visitor Unfortunately, a positive shift in attitudes and behaviours towards profile of tourists taking part in elephant rides. In terms of age, the use of elephants in entertainment in Thailand has not yet elephant-riding visitors are fairly evenly spread. However, people translated into meaningful changes to the welfare and lives of aged over 55 are more likely to participate in elephant shows. elephants there. Despite the percentage decrease in tourists taking elephants rides and watching elephant shows, the The number of visitors to Thailand travelling independently has exponential increase in tourist numbers means actual demand for increased between 2016 and 2019. Eighty three percent of elephants used in entertainment is higher than ever before. tourists interviewed in Thailand were independent travellers in 2019 (against 62% in 2016). Of those, 59% said they paid for Pre-Covid-19, Thailand experienced years of high tourism growth. their animal experience directly at the venue at the time of visit or According to UNWTO dataviii, from 2015–2016 tourist arrivals booked online (20%). The rest said it was part of a pre-arranged increased by 8.6%; 9.4% the following year, and by 7.3% again day tour (12%), or booked through their hotel (24%), or through a between 2017–18. If we look back at tourist arrival data below, local tour operator (10%). tourist arrivals in Thailand have increased by 622% between 1990 and 2018. The survey also revealed that recommendations from friends were considered the main influences in joining a wildlife activity. This shows the power of word of mouth, and that it will be key in moving social norms to end elephants being held in captivity. If wild animal use for people’s entertainment is seen as unacceptable by the majority, then fewer people will take part because of fear of others’ negative perceptions.
Figure 17: The growth of tourism in Thailand
2018 38.3
2017 35.4
2016 32.6
2015 29.9
2014 24.8
Year 2010 15.9
2005 11.6
1998 7.8
1995 7
1990 5.3
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 Arrivals of foreign visitors (millions)
viii https://www.unwto.org/country-profile-inbound-tourism
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Demand for high welfare elephant activities In 2019, things changed The narrative about keeping wild animals for entertainment is shifting globally. People increasingly believe it is wrong to make an income from wild animals for entertainment if the animals suffer dramatically. Seeing wild (81%). Most also believe wild animals belong living naturally in the wild (87%) and that if they had the chance they would rather animals in their natural see wild animals in their natural habitats. (85%). The trend is confirmed by tourists in Thailand. In 2016, tourists habitat (37%) and observing interviewed in Thailand, cited riding an elephant as their favourite activity (36%), and observing elephants as their least preferred elephants (24%) became the activity (14%). Other choices offered were: seeing wild animals in their natural habitats; observing elephants being taken care of in two most preferred activities. the best possible way (without riding or shows); riding an elephant, and seeing elephants performing tricks. In 2019, things changed dramatically. Seeing wild animals in their natural habitat (37%) and observing elephants (24%) became the two most preferred activities. Tourism demand for elephant-friendly alternatives is growing. Twelve percent of tourists interviewed in Thailand said they would pay US$100 and more to participate in an elephant- and wildlife- There is a significant amount friendly activity not involving any animal interaction or performances. of economic potential for Globally, the sentiment is the same. Seventy nine percent of those who witnessed animal cruelty said they would pay more for an elephant-friendly venues - a activity involving animals if they knew the animals did not suffer. This demonstrates a significant amount of economic potential for potential that has not been such elephant-friendly venues – a potential that has not been exploited yet. exploited yet.
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The role of the travel industry
The travel industry can make true change By 2013 almost all other larger tour operators in the Netherlands Travel companies worldwide are key in changing the demand had followed and by 2014, the Australian group, Intrepid Travel, 69 and the supply for captive elephant experiences. Eighty five had become the first to stop such sales and promotions globally. percent of tourists interviewed in our 2019 global poll believed In the years following, travel companies from around the world that tour operators should avoid activities that cause wild animals followed these examples. suffering. In October 2016, the world’s largest travel site, TripAdvisor, This point is critical. Reputable travel companies offering inhumane announced that it would stop selling tickets for elephant rides and wildlife activities, can interfere with the behavioural judgement of other experiences featuring direct tourist contact with captive wild tourists. This is because people tend to assume that if well-known animals. This decision was in response to more than half a million travel brands offer wildlife entertainment activities, such activities people calling on the company to stop profiting from the world’s 70 are genuine and acceptable – when actually they are not. cruellest wildlife attractions. As the world tries to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Today, more than 250 travel brands around the world have travel industry’s leadership has never been more important or joined our elephant-friendly movement, including brands like timely. It can help avert future social and economic crises by Airbnb, Booking.com and a growing number of Chinese travel addressing tourism’s relationship to elephants and other wildlife. companies. Ecological, adventure and local experiences are most popular with travellers68. So, it should be no surprise that an encounter with an elephant is high on some travellers ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ wish list when visiting a country like Thailand. The country receives almost 40 million tourists from around the world each year. This is equivalent to more than half its own population. It is in the travel industry’s best interest to use their influence to protect elephants. Travel companies, including booking platforms, (online) travel agencies, tour operators and destination management As the world tries to recover companies, and travel trade associations, can all improve elephant tourism and end inhumane practices that rely on captive from the Covid-19 pandemic, elephants. the travel industry’s leadership Hotels also have critical role to play in promoting and advocating for responsible tourism among their customers to enable them to has never been more important be wildlife-friendly travellers. Twenty two percent of tourists to Thailand booked their animal experience through their hotel. or timely. It can help avert future ‘Greenwashing’ marketing, and rebranding low welfare venues as sanctuaries, rehabilitation and rescue centres make it social and economic crises by challenging for consumers to recognise legitimate elephant- friendly venues. Travel companies have the responsibility to review addressing tourism’s relationship the products they offer to make sure they are truly elephant- friendly. This means elephants free and able to exhibit a wide to elephants and other wildlife. range of natural behaviours, in best-practice animal care conditions, with tourists only observing them from safe and respectful distances. World Animal Protection has worked with the travel industry for more than a decade. In 2010 ,TUI Nederland became the first tour operator to stop all sales and promotion of venues offering elephant rides and shows.
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China on the move also labelled all these products with a warning to inform While Chinese tourists’ attitudes are changing71, many Chinese consumers of the cruelty involved. The company also saw an tourists still use a trip to Thailand as an easy way to ride or bathe important role for itself in raising awareness, particularly among an elephant or to watch them perform. Thailand received almost younger Chinese travellers. It updated its responsible travel guide 11 million Chinese tourists in 2019. This represents 27.6% of the to include a section on animal welfare. It also covers why total share of tourists to the country that year. It demonstrates that travellers should not want to get involved in elephant the Chinese travel industry has a key role in changing the future entertainments.73 for captive elephants. While many parts of the world recognise that captive elephant Recently, the Chinese travel industry has started to show entertainment is unacceptable, a tipping point has not yet been leadership in devising ethical animal welfare travel policies. In reached in China. However, Chinese tourists’ attitudes are rapidly 2017, CAISSA Tourism Group, one of China’s largest travel changing. So, it is likely that more Chinese major travel industry operators, was among the first Chinese travel companies to players, like Trip or Fliggy, will want to become leaders for remove elephant riding and shows from its offers.72 elephants, something these sentient giants desperately need. And in 2018 QYER.COM, China’s leading outbound travel platform, stopped promoting elephant riding and shows. They It is likely that more Chinese major travel industry players, like Trip or Fliggy, will want to become leaders for elephants, something these sentient giants desperately need.
Image: Chinese tourists waiting for an elephant ride at a venue in Thailand.
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Demand but no supply In 2018, research conducted by the University of Surrey, Many travel companies have changed their offers and joined commissioned by World Animal Protection, found that almost all World Animal Protection in calling for an elephant-friendly future. the world’s travel trade associations were lagging in providing But this has not guaranteed that tourists visit venues that provide guidance on the use of animals in tourism. Out of the 62 entities better care for their elephants than some of the riding camps. that were studied, only two travel trade associations, ABTA in the UK and ANVR in the Netherlands, had set animal welfare Many travel companies and tourists replaced their elephant riding guidelines for their members.75 activities with what seemed like ethical elephant experiences. These are often venues where visitors can bathe, wash or feed As early as 2016, ANVR was the first travel trade association to elephants. Our 2019–2020 elephant camp survey results show categorise all elephant shows, elephant riding and other forms of an increase in the number of venues offering such activities direct tourist contact with elephants as unacceptable.76 In 2019, compared to five years ago when we did our previous study. ABTA took a similar stance, launching its updated animal welfare While this change in demand from travel companies and tourists guidelines. These classify elephant riding, and any direct contact show the right intention, our research shows it has unfortunately with, or feeding of elephants without a barrier as not always led to improved elephant welfare. ‘unacceptable’.77 Travel companies and tourists often have difficulty identifying Around the same time the Southern Africa Tourism Services genuine higher welfare elephant venues. This is made even Association (SATSA), announced similar positions in their new harder as there is a common practice within the elephant tourism animal interaction guidelines. They categorised performing, riding industry of mislabelling poor welfare attractions as ‘sanctuaries’, and walking alongside elephants as unacceptable.78 All three ‘rescue centres’ or ‘retirement homes’. Elephant camps have also associations – ANVR, ABTA and SATSA – based their decisions been reluctant to become elephant-friendly, observation-only, as on extensive consultation processes and evidence. They all they are uncertain whether there is an actual demand for these concluded that these types of captive elephant activities involve activities. unnatural behaviours, require harmful training and management techniques, and lack education or conservation value. In 2015, when this gap between demand and supply became apparent, World Animal Protection formed the Coalition for Ethical Wildlife Tourism (CEWT) with a group of committed travel companies.74 One of the coalition’s two objectives is: “to prove a strong demand and support for venues to become Elephant- Friendly (observation only)” to those on the supply side: the elephant camps. Because of CEWT members’ combined efforts, two former riding Out of the 62 entities that were camps have transitioned themselves to observation-only models. These are ChangChill in the North of Thailand near Chiang Mai, studied, only two travel trade and Following Giants in the South on the Thai island of Koh Lanta. With these transitions, the lives of elephants have changed for the associations, ABTA in the UK better and tourists are getting a more meaningful experience. But and ANVR in the Netherlands, most importantly these venues have become best practice models for other elephant camps to replicate. had set animal welfare guidelines for their members. Travel industry guidelines The growing awareness among tourists and those who work within the travel industry has not simply resulted in more travel company commitments to protect elephants. A small but growing number of travel trade associations also see their role in protecting elephants and other wildlife from exploitation for tourism.
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Elephant camp standards experience. It could also improve the welfare of those elephants
Deriving from the same demand for more ethical elephant already at tourism venues and support efforts to gradually phase experiences, another industry initiative was launched in 2019 – out such practices in the long run. the Asian Captive Elephant Standards (ACES). Like the travel trade associations’ guidelines, its primary goal is to ensure good welfare of elephants at tourism venues and provide a tool for Build back better travel companies (and tourists) to find ethical elephant venues. The travel industry has benefitted from captive elephant Unfortunately, the ACES certification initiative is failing to protect entertainment for decades through commercial exploitation. Once elephants. born out of necessity to maintain the elephants previously employed in the logging industry, the industry is responsible for The ACES certification system does not acknowledge key animal keeping more elephants in captivity for commercial purposes. The welfare needs of elephants when assessing elephant camps. It Covid-19 pandemic is affecting every country’s tourism, so there is makes dangerous false claims that elephant welfare will be an incredible opportunity to build back better, as a stronger, more safeguarded at venues awarded ACES bronze, silver, gold or resilient and more responsible sector. conservation level certification. The pandemic has proven that placing complex, intelligent and Of the four certified venues, one provided only poor welfare endangered animals like elephants at the whim of a commercial conditions based on the methodology used by our animal welfare industry vulnerable to economic fluctuations is unacceptable and conditions assessment. Two others ranged in the middle of our inhumane. The situation clearly affects people who work directly scoring spectrum, still providing only inadequate conditions. with the animals too. None of these venues provided their elephants with sufficient time Consequently, everyone within the travel industry should take and space to roam or socialise on their own terms. One kept measures to: several elephants on inappropriate flooring when they were not interacting with tourists. Another had elephants performing in • educate tourists and steer tourist demand toward truly ethical shows. All three allowed direct tourist interactions; these pose risks and meaningful experiences where elephants can roam to human health and safety and require harsh training of the around freely, and no visitor contact is allowed elephants and constant control. • require suppliers to end commercial breeding while Only the fourth venue, the Elephant Conservation Center in Laos, encouraging and supporting them to improve conditions for received both a gold and a conservation level certification from existing captive elephants ACES. It also scored ‘commendable’ regarding their elephants’ • support suppliers in offering wild-watching and true sanctuary welfare conditions based on our methodology. experiences None of the ACES criteria addresses the need to restrict breeding • advocate with governments for a wildlife trade ban and to or trade of elephants and in principle promotes the use of enact strict measures to prevent poaching. endangered elephants for commercial tourism. Thus the ACES accreditation system at this time is unfortunately of no added value Combined, these objectives can create real and lasting change to the travel industry. It does not reliably identify responsible for elephants and make this the last generation of captive elephant attractions that prioritise the elephant’s welfare, or that elephants used for tourism entertainment. even contribute to a phase- out of commercial captive elephant tourism. Travel companies, tourists and elephants desperately need a system that accurately and effectively tracks and reports on the care of captive elephants in Asia. Steps must be taken to phase out the commercial use of captive elephants in tourism entirely. Such a system will ensure improvements are recognised by the travel industry. Based on genuine animal welfare expertise, independent of the elephant industry, an elephant camp certification system can be a useful tool for those searching for a truly ethical elephant
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Economics of the elephant tourism industry
are typically designed with a quick turnaround in mind. The rides The use of captive elephants in tourism is driven by commerce and profit. In Thailand and other countries elephants are legally traded are short, lasting between 10 and 30 minutes and shows usually as livestock; prices are as high as an expensive car. The revenue last 15 minutes or fewer. generated by the captive elephant industry is clearly significant During our research we estimated visitor numbers per day at each and explains some of the resentment regarding phasing out these venue. By taking the medium footfall estimated for each venue, we practices. calculated that at least 13,700 people visit venues offering both We have examined the economics of the elephant tourism rides and shows every day. With each customer paying on industry in Thailand; the country is home to almost two thirds of average US$33.23, that means all venues offering both rides and captive Asian elephants used for tourism. The absence of shows in Thailand generate more than US$455,000 per day in accurate visitor numbers to venues means our calculations are sales combined. based on figures and information obtained from venue staff, one- Breaking this down further, table X shows a crude estimation of hour monitoring by our researchers, or personal estimates. turnover for a fictitious large-scale elephant riding and show venue. It is based on known elephant rental prices, feeding costs, mahout bonuses for each ride, additional staff, and ticket sales Elephant rides and shows income. There is a significant margin between income and Two thirds of Thailand’s elephants are used for riding activities; expenditure estimates of several hundred thousand USD per and our research shows the average price for a 30-minute ride is month (Table 7). US$21.40. If all 1,861 riding elephants were ridden four to eight This calculation does not cover all the costs a venue might have. times daily at the average 30-minute ride price, all riding venues For example, it does not include expenditure items such as would generate between US$318,683 and $637,376 in sales insurance, supplies, maintenance, marketing or initial investment. It daily combinedix. also does not include auxiliary income streams such as souvenir At venues where customers can buy a package which includes sales or beverages. Although crude, these estimates indicate that seeing a show and a ride, the average revenue per visitor for the there are significant profits in running such large-scale venues, most basic package is US$33.23. The activities at these venues which clearly drives the trade in elephants.
Table 7: Expenditure estimate for a large-scale elephant riding and show venue with 50 rented elephants, US$33 ticket price (1025 THB) as identified by our research, 500 visitors daily. Monthly (THB) Monthly (US$) Expenses 50 elephants and mahouts 1,250,000 40,386 Elephant food 1,500,000 48,463 Mahout ride bonus 600,000 19,385 50 staff for customer care, maintenance, transport 750,000 24,231 *Supplies Unknown Unknown *Maintenance Unknown Unknown *Marketing Unknown Unknown Total expenditure (not including * expenses) 4,100,000 132, 465 Income Income from sales 15,375,000 495,000 Estimated profit (not including *expenses) 11,275,000 362,535
ix Assuming as a minimum each elephant provides four 30 minutes rides daily, carrying two people, the calculated minimum earning per elephant adds up to US$171 daily. Assuming eight 30-minute rides per day – representing just half the eight hours or more most (49%) of venues are open – this equals a daily earning of US$342 per elephant.
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Elephant washing and bathing venues When calculating visitor numbers per day per venue and using Elephant washing / bathing venues have increased dramatically the medium footfall, we calculated at least 14,475 people buying in the last five years. Our calculations confirm that these contribute bathing activities daily. Using the average price per person, this significantly to the money generated through captive elephant amounts to a revenue of over US$828,000 per day for all tourism. The average revenue per visitor when selecting the elephant washing venues combined. cheapest bathing activity is US$57.20. This ranges from quick, US$8 bathing activities to full-day bathing experiences worth well over US$100.
Image: An elephant bathing venue in Thailand.
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Observation-only venues observation-based venues cater for around 20–25 guests on average per day. Only two primarily observation venues cater for Venues that are primarily observation only, including ones that offer some feeding activity through protective barriers, still make 50-200 tourists daily, while one well-established venue caters to up the smallest proportion of tourist activities. This is despite an 201–500 visitors per day. increasing demand from travel companies and tourists. We calculate the average cost of an observation-only activity to Unlike riding or show venues, which have quick turnaround times, be US$89.This is based on using the lowest-priced option for observation-only venues aim to attract tourists for longer visiting each venue including either half-day, full-day activities or the periods of half-day to full-day or even multi-day visits. average daily price where multi-day activities were offered. The Unsurprisingly, multi-night packages tend to be the most expensive average full-day activity cost is US$106. option ranging between US$180–$720, depending on the The range of prices for observation or predominantly observation- number of days. only venues is large, ranging from US$36 to $180 USD for Some venues have a minimum stay duration of two to seven days. activities lasting a maximum of one day. Using the estimated These venues usually restrict visitor group sizes to smaller numbers medium footfall, we calculate that all observation-only venues in to minimise any impact visitors could have on the elephants and total generate more than US$91,000 daily in sales. their welfare (Figure 18). We found that 85% of primarily
Image: An observation-based venue in Thailand. Small groups of guests pay higher prices and the impact of visitors on the elephants is minimised.
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High economic value drives exploitation
We estimate that the entire captive elephant tourism industry and the possible income generated per elephant. Venues offering generates between US$581.3 to US$770.6 million of sales per tourism activities that on average provide better welfare conditions year (Table 8). We arrived at this figure by comparing all these seemed to generate more sales per elephant. These venues also sales estimates and considering a +/- 14% variation to account depended on fewer elephants and fewer tourists. We estimate for the differences in international tourist arrivals in Thailandx that a single elephant at an observation-only venue could earn as Elephant washing and bathing activities are responsible for almost much as three times more than an elephant at a conventional half of this income. riding venue (Table 9) – if consistent visitor footfall is achieved. We have also identified a correlation between average animal welfare conditions scores for venues that offer a particular activity
Table 8: Total estimated sales in US$ per elephant tourism activity. Elephant tourism activity Estimated US$ sales all venues / day Estimated US$ sales all venues / year in millions Riding 478,000 150.0 – 198.9 Riding and shows 455,000 142.8 – 189.3 Washing or bathing 828,000 259.9 – 344.6 Observation-only 91,000 28.6 – 37.9 Total 1,852,000 581.3 – 770.6
Table 9: Income factor for different elephant tourism activities. Elephant tourism activity Estimated US$ sales all venues / day Estimated US$ sales all venues / year in millions Riding 1 3.9 Riding and shows 1.85 3.4 Washing or bathing 1.85 5.7 Observation-only 3.14 8.3
x Source: Ministry of Tourism & Sports, Thailand; International Tourist Arrivals 2018; https://www.mots.go.th/mots_en/more_news_new.php?cid=329
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Overall, these figures show a worrying amount of money could generate more sales with fewer elephants than tourism generated by keeping an endangered species in inadequate activities catering to mass tourism. These numbers indicate the conditions in a captive industry, that depends on tourism. The economic case for stopping the breeding of elephants and estimated earnings by the elephant tourism industry can also help reducing the number of captive elephants. This can be done while explain why efforts to phase it out have not been very successful they are increasingly kept at high-welfare, observation-only to date. facilities. However, the findings also show that tourism activities associated with higher-welfare condition scores and lower visitor footfall
Figure 18: Average price per activity and average daily customers in Thailand. Trekking is the lowest priced activity, followed by show/ride combination tickets and washing/bathing. Observation-only activities are the most expensive, but admit the fewest visitors per day.
Average price per activity in Thailand in US$ 100.00 90.00 80.00 70.00 60.00 50.00 US$ 40.00 30.00 20.00 10.00 0.00 Trekking/rides Show & ride package Washing/bathing Observation only Activities offered
Average daily customers according to activity offered in Thailand 16000 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000
No. of customers 4000 2000 0 Trekking/rides Show & ride package Washing/bathing Observation only Activities offered
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Covid- 19 impact: an opportunity to build back better
This report outlines research that was carried out until January alone are estimated at more than US$900,000 per month; a 2020 and describes the situation of captive elephant-based similar amount is needed for the salaries of their caretakers. tourism at its peak. Shortly after the data collection was completed, the Covid-19 pandemic led to a total stop of international tourism. It hit the popular travel destinations, that are Risk of more elephants being bred into captivity home to these majestic animals, particularly hard. In reaction to the current crisis many elephant owners, particularly Consequently, elephants at tourism venues have been facing in Thailand, have had to take their elephants back to their home serious risks including starvation and lack of appropriate care. This villages. These are often hundreds of kilometres away from the situation is not only threatening the health and welfare of these tourism camps.79 Without any other use for their elephants there is animals, but the livelihoods of many families. It highlights the a high risk that elephant owners will use this time to breed them. elephant tourism industry’s unsustainable nature and shows clearly This is to generate further offspring for future use in tourism and to why tourism is no appropriate place for captive elephants, and profit financially. The effects of this on existing captive elephants has no conservation value. will be devastating as even more elephants will be competing for scarce resources. As this report details, captive elephants are ill-suited for a life in the tourism industry even during the best of times. Their size, strength In June 2020, with 190 other concerned animal welfare and intelligence require management practices, such as chaining, organisations, 10 prominent elephant welfare experts and cruel training and harsh punishment that are inhumane and lead to university professors, we asked Thailand’s government issue a their suffering. Over the past decade the captive elephant temporary breeding ban on private elephants. A permanent ban population in Thailand has grown driven by profit from the is clearly required combined with a demand decrease for captive growing demand from tourism. In 2020 the elephants’ elephant tourism. However, a temporary ban would at least dependency on the venues’ income through tourism became a prevent a dramatic spike in further elephant births in two years’ serious threat to their wellbeing. time. As of the publication of this report the Thai government has issued no response to this request. To place complex, intelligent and endangered elephants at the whim of a commercial industry so vulnerable to economic The travel industry and the countries maintaining a captive fluctuations is unacceptable and inhumane. Not only to the elephant tourism industry must use this unprecedented situation to elephants, but also to their mahouts, a group of people often rethink our relationship with elephants. Tourism will come back – disadvantaged through low pay and high-risk employment. but it needs to come back better by recognising the threats to captive elephants and their wild relatives. Measures must be We, as well as other international NGOs that have voiced their taken that lead to a responsible phase out of the commercial use concern about this industry for many years, but also local of captive elephants. All efforts must be focussed on protecting organisations in Thailand, stepped in to help the captive elephants in the wild, where they belong. elephants. However, the food costs for all elephants in Thailand
Image: An elephant show at a venue in Thailand - elephants are trained to perform tricks which causes health problems in the long run and pose a risk of injury.
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Conservation value and captive breeding
Some people closely associated with the elephant tourism industry questioned where their mothers were, most venues stated that the argue that captive Asian elephants traded for commercial tourism mother was in a different camp or in a completely different area are of value for species conservation. But such arguments rest on of Thailand. maintaining a commercial industry based on trading of Also, our findings regarding the most common elephant training endangered animals and treating and training them inhumanely. practices confirmed that the average separation age of calves Here, we assess the validity of these arguments, particularly from mothers and the start of training is just over two years old. regarding the profitable captive elephant tourism industry in This is a stark contrast to how elephants grow up in the wild, Thailand. where females tend to stay within their close-knit family herd, and Since Thailand’s logging restrictions, during the 1990s, that led to males leave only around aged 10-15 years.50 a shift of captive elephants from logging into tourism, the country’s Apart from the physical harm of the training, this complete neglect captive elephant population has risen consistently. of the elephants’ natural social development leaves severe In 2017, its entire registered captive elephant population psychological marks52,53. These marks leave the elephant with a (including all elephants – not only tourism elephants) was 3,783 lifelong trauma and can also complicate or prevent natural elephants. This was almost 30% more than at the time of the socialisation later in an elephant’s life. Separated far too early logging ban. More than half of today’s elephants were born after from their mothers, captive born calves grow up without learning the logging restrictions and were bred specifically for tourism. any parenting skills from their mothers, which may lead to Their number has consistently increased. For example: in 2010, abnormal maternal behaviour as adults.80 In Myanmar, the 1,644 elephants6 were used in tourism camps; five years later, this training procedure led to an increased mortality rate in the years number increased to 2,198 elephants7. following the training61. This further calls into question the practices associated with keeping elephants in captivity – and particularly By January 2020, more than 2,800 elephants in Thailand its suggested value for conservation. depended on commercial tourism by giving rides, performing in shows or participating in bathing activities with tourists. This reflects Two hundred and fifty elephant biologists and elephant a 70% increase in elephants kept for tourism entertainment over professionals, many of whom are conservationists, recognise in 10 years. The increase highlights the inherent problem with this the ‘Elephant Charter’ that “captive and confined elephants suffer industry: breeding and trade for profit. Many people associated from a host of physical and psychological conditions not with the industry suggest that this is of benefit for species observed in the wild”. The Elephant Charter was put together to conservation. promote scientifically sound and ethical management and care of all elephants, provide guidance to any institution managing wild In 2003 two renowned elephant experts, Kurt and Mar, or captive elephants. It states: “We harm elephants when through produced a paper considering the role of the foremost human intervention we break close social bonds; in particular our conservation body of Asian elephants, the IUCN Asian Elephant management practices must strive not to break the bonds between Specialist Group. The authors stated that only where captive mothers and their offspring.” elephants can express natural behaviour patterns, socialise with others, and move free of chains could a value for conservation be But even beyond this traumatic separation from their mothers and considered.14 cruel training, the lives of captive elephants in the tourism industry could not be more different from their lives in the wild. They are The authors scored different captive elephant management styles deprived of learning and socially interacting with family herds. according to their potential significance for conservation. Intensive They endure husbandry conditions dominated by chain restraints, tourist camps that offered conventional entertainment ranked must accept people as authorities and providers of food, must lowest with 4 out of 21 points. When looking at the conditions interact with strangers, and are commercially traded for profit- elephants commonly face in captivity, even this scoring appears guided breeding. overly positive. Captive breeding, cruel training and early separation of calves from their mothers outlines how far commercial tourism deviates from conditions that could be deemed natural. Our 2019–2020 study identified 263 elephants below the age of five at the assessed tourism venues in Thailand. This calculates to an average of over 50 new-born elephants per year. When
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The degree to which efforts of releasing formerly held captive Members of the IUCN African Elephant Specialist Group elephants into natural habitat contribute to conservation is (AfESG) reject such practices for elephants as a conservation tool. questionable. For example, it is unclear how elephants raised in Instead a strong focus is put on efforts that contribute to species such artificial captive environments could function if released back conservation that maintains the species’ ecological function in the into the wild. The impact of their captive upbringing may influence environment. their ability to perform their ecological role, or trigger human- Dr Marion Garaï, member of the IUCN AfESG, chairperson of elephant conflict. The abnormal social environment of calves the Elephant Specialist Advisory Group, trustee of the Elephant separated from their maternal families at young age deprives Reintegration Trust and scientific advisor to the European Elephant them of the opportunity to learn essential parenting skills from their Group EEG, states: mothers, aunts and sisters. This will decrease their ability to take care properly of any offspring they may have when they become “Most of the captive tourism elephants have been heavily abused adults.80 They may also contract diseases from people, such as and are psychologically so broken, that even if breeding has tuberculosis23, and introducing such disease to wild elephants occurred, they cannot just be released into the wild without a very could be catastrophic. elaborate rehabilitation program. Therefore, to stipulate that such facilities are acceptable conservation tools is totally inappropriate. A few non-touristic projects have released captive-held elephants They have absolutely no value for elephant conservation. into natural habitats and monitored their well-being. Yet, this has Conservation efforts should rather focus on protecting the shrinking been limited to a few dozen elephants over several decades. habitat in the wild, while encouraging and ensuring the best Conflicts with surrounding local communities made this work possible care for those elephants in captivity for the remainder of challenging. their lives.” Conservation projects that aim to release animals back into the It is clear from all the findings presented in this report that the wild usually put significant effort into preserving natural captive elephant tourism industry is inherently misaligned with the behaviours. They do this by trying to replicate the needs of the principles of species conservation. Claiming that this industry must species in captivity and limiting interaction with people until the be maintained as a conservation tool tragically ignores the reality point of release. Captive breeding programmes with conservation of commercial exploitation. It can only be explained as aims must be scientifically managed to ensure genetic robustness. greenwashing the abuse of this endangered species. Inappropriate breeding can eradicate any potential DNA preservation value. However, it is a sad reality that most Asian elephant countries are unlikely to phase out keeping elephants in captivity in the These considerations and efforts are not addressed by immediate future. This generation of elephants will have several commercial captive elephant tourism that is entirely guided by more decades of captive life ahead of them at least. profits. Consequently, the value of elephants bred in such industry for eventually reinforcing wild populations as part of a conservation programme is close to zero. Using elephants in commercial tourism is highly lucrative as outlined in our chapter on economics. The entire tourism elephant population generates up to US$770.6 million in sales per year. It has created elephant price tags ranging up to US$50,000 for an To stipulate that elephant elephant deemed useful for tourism. Such a price for a captive elephant creates a dangerous incentive to poach wild elephants tourism facilities are or to trade them illegally within countries and across national borders. acceptable conservation Worldwide, we are not aware of successful conservation precedents for keeping an endangered wild animal species in a tools is totally inappropriate. privatised, commercial tourism industry. Most animal conservationists are unlikely to seriously attribute any conservation value to using orang-utans for shows and tourist interactions, or tigers for selfies and cub-feeding. So, it is puzzling that captive elephants giving rides and performing in shows could be somehow considered different.
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Consequently, it is important to explore models that limit the Other authors suggest taking this model further by creating large- suffering of these elephants and that could provide some limited scale, rewilding initiatives. Within these, elephants would no contribution to the conservation of elephant habitat or species in longer be under direct control of mahouts but local communities the wild. They should also prevent a further increase of captive would benefit from living with elephants in their vicinity.81 Such elephant numbers and ensure conditions for captive elephants that concepts could minimise the suffering of elephants in captivity resemble their natural habitat as closely as possible. Furthermore, while providing some incentive to protect them in their natural they should limit or entirely prevent interactions with people to habitat. prevent any impact on the elephants’ behaviour and welfare. However, these concepts are entirely different from the current, Recently, researchers have been advocating for the rewilding of dominant form of commercial captive-elephant tourism across Asia captive elephants through elephant-owning communities in remote which aims at profit generation above anything else. areas. These communities would function as mahout-guardians by Enabling more progressive concepts for the elephants currently in monitoring their elephants in the natural habitat close to their captivity will first require a complete rebuild of the tourism industry. villages. Some low-level observation-based eco-tourism could be The existing profit-driven practices focussing on direct contact with 20 allowed to provide benefits to the communities. elephants must be abandoned.
Image: Guests observe elephants from a viewing platform at an observation venue in Laos. The venue is actively engaged in rewilding and releasing elephants into protected habitats.
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Image: In 2020, World Animal Protection has been providing emergency funding to 11 elephant venues in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Nepal. These venues struggled to maintain their elephants due to the travel restrictions during Covid-19. Credit: Kindred Spirit Elephant sanctuary Conclusions Life in captivity A life in captivity for elephants is inherently inhumane and leads to This paints a very bleak picture about the conditions for elephants suffering throughout their long lives. The practices necessary to in captive-elephant tourism. control elephants when in close interaction with people highlight There are exceptions to the rule. Significant efforts are being how inadequate a life in tourism entertainment is for these made to enable elephants a life that allows them to be elephants. magnificent, endangered wild animals. But the bigger picture and the trends we share in this report are These practices involve: cause for serious concern and require urgent action.
• premature separation of the elephant calves from their Unfortunately, there are deep trenches between the two main mothers fractions arguing for changes. One side argues that incremental improvements to the welfare of elephants in captivity is sufficient. • social deprivation for the remainder of their lives This allows them to continue the practice of commercial captive- • restraints that restrict their movements elephant tourism while claiming a conservation benefit.
• cruel training to assure obedience in particular in the very The other side agrees with the need for improvement to the early stage of their lives welfare of elephants, but only by phasing out the principal practice of keeping elephants within a commercial tourism • punishment or fear of punishment on a daily basis industry. This seemingly small difference between accepting or • limited or inadequate veterinary care and nutrition. rejecting the keeping elephants for commercial gain leads to fundamentally different approaches and solutions.
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The captive elephant industry has received negative attention over However, the study also showed that the tourism demand has the past years, but we have seen several arguments in favour of changed and with it the type of tourism experiences. Compared maintaining and promoting this industry. These include that chain to five years ago a tripling of venues that offer elephant washing restraints and hooks are not necessarily bad and that elephants experiences in Thailand has been registered. This reflects the are not trained cruelly anymore. There are also suggestions that growing awareness among tourists and in travel companies that observation-only experiences are bad for elephants (see chapter conventional elephant entertainment is not acceptable anymore. ‘Captivity and Welfare’). But this trend must not stop here. This report disputes these claims. Our evidence is based on 10 As shown in this report conditions at elephant washing places can years researching all aspects of this industry in Asia. During this at times mean a small improvement but remain fundamentally time, we have conducted more than 1,000 visits to more than problematic. The close interaction between visitors and elephants 300 elephant camps across eight countries. We have also risks the safety and health of the people interacting with the documented the most common way of training elephants, and elephant and reinforces the need for constant control and cruel collaborated with renowned elephant and animal-welfare experts training. and academics worldwide. Despite the positive change of consumer demand towards Our 2019–2020 study found that over 3,800 elephants are held experiences with better animal welfare conditions scores, the captive in at least 357 facilities catering to tourists across situation remains grave. This is because of the overall growth of Thailand, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. tourism, particularly from China. The change in demand has not This is a 30% increase of the number of elephants in just five yet reached its full potential in changing conditions for elephants. years. This is a worrying development as more than half are used Demand must shift further to encourage more facilities to enable for elephant rides, and only a very small minority given access to elephants to be elephants. Such facilities involve letting elephants free-roaming, observation-only facilities. roam freely under remote supervision during the day, interact with As outlined in our elephant conservation chapter, the captive other elephants where possible, and primarily observation-only elephant tourism industry is inherently misaligned with the experiences for visitors. However, even this is only a compromise principles of species conservation. Claiming that this industry must to truly protect elephant welfare. An eventual phase-out of the use be maintained as a conservation tool is tragically ignoring the of captive elephants for commercial tourism entertainment is reality of commercial exploitation and greenwashes the abuse of essential to address the inherent problems with this industry. this endangered species.
A way forward
Captive elephant use for tourism is inherently linked with the inhumane and cruel practices, necessary to safeguard the people closely interacting with elephants. The economic gain generated through this industry is estimated at more than half a billion USD Compared to five years ago per year in Thailand alone. Combined with legislation that classifies captive elephants as commodities in most Asian a tripling of venues that offer countries, this poses a threat to the elephants’ wellbeing in elephant washing captivity and their protection in the wild. An increasing proportion of mahouts and elephant caretakers experiences in Thailand has without heritage in elephant keeping are involved in this industry. Only a fraction want their children to take up this profession. This been registered. indicates concerns based on low income, high personal health risk and limited potential to develop further. The consistently increasing number of captive elephants within the industry is driven by the massive increase in overall number of international tourists over the past decade. Although the proportion of people rejecting such practices has also significantly increased, this is dwarfed by the overall increase in tourist numbers.
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The Covid-19 pandemic has shown the vulnerability and practice elephant management, or they can choose to observe dependency of captive elephants on tourism. While concerns elephants responsibly in the wild. about this industry have been raised for many years, it is clearer Improving conditions for the current generation of captive tourism than ever that change must happen now. Such change must elephants and their caretakers will decrease suffering and acknowledge the thousands of captive elephants in the industry exploitation of elephants and mahouts. Tourism attractions based and the people whose livelihoods depend on their elephant’s use on observation-only experiences and monitored for best practice in tourism. Furthermore, the historical and cultural significance of standards are the best possible options to achieve this. people’s traditional relationship with captive elephants and the related spiritual value needs to be acknowledged and respected Such attractions remove visitors from the immediate vicinity of when exploring solutions. captive elephants and allow the animals to have greater autonomy and behavioural diversity. As a result, the risks of injury While there isn’t a silver bullet here, three interlinked key elements of visitors is decreased and mahouts have a greater flexibility in are essential to address the concerns and end this inhumane supervising their elephants as they no longer have to control every practice. These are: movement. Experiencing elephants being elephants should inspire • reducing the number of captive elephants used for visitors to protect elephants and their natural habitat in the wild. commercial tourism Mahouts must be an integral part of such improvements and given • decreasing demand for captive elephant tourism better employment packages. These should include better living entertainment attractions conditions at the venues, provide their better education and a future in other professions. Such packages should also encourage • improving conditions for the current generation of captive career development beyond the lifespan of the elephant they are tourism elephants and their caretakers. taking care of. These three key elements combined will achieve a responsible Stopping the influx of new captive elephant into the tourism phase-out of the unacceptable situation captive elephants are industry and reducing their number is crucial. There is already facing today. We strongly recommended that governments and limited availability of resources such as skilled staff, adequate dedicated elephant experts explore alternative ways to address land, and high-quality veterinary care. The consistent increase is these concerns. worsening the situation and creating further dependencies on They could shift the current generation of captive tourism commercial demand. elephants away from the commercial venues and into projects that Countries with captive elephants must prevent captive breeding support conservation initiatives for protecting wild elephants and and intake of wild elephants for the purpose of commercial use. their habitat. This must be done without further encouraging or The current generation of captive elephants must be the last one sustaining the keeping of captive elephants in a commercial, facing these conditions. privatised tourism industry. Decreasing the demand for captive-elephant tourism entertainment Never has the time been more right to take action for elephants is closely linked with reducing the number of captive elephants. If and change how we want our relationship with them to be in the fewer people are willing to pay for elephant entertainment the future. Elephants are wild animals – not entertainment motivation to breed and trade captive elephants or to launder commodities. They need our protection to stay in the wild where wild elephants into the industry will decrease. they belong. This demand decrease is not and should not happen overnight, to safeguard the welfare of the current generation of captive elephants. However, a clear signal to the elephant industry that tourism demand is decreasing is essential. An intermediate phase- A clear signal to the elephant out step can be the shift of the demand towards higher-welfare elephant attractions that require fewer visitors and fewer industry that tourism demand elephants, while providing more rewarding experiences. Travel companies and individual travellers can make a real is decreasing is essential. change here. They can choose to visit only elephant-friendly venues offering observation-only experiences, combined with best-
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Appendix 1
A scientific bias towards intensive management of as a whole. The camp these samples were collected from houses elephants a very high density of elephants and is surrounded by a large number of other camps with elephant groups. Chiang Mai University’s veterinary faculty and the Smithsonian Institute have in recent years released studies that appeared to Such density of elephants alone might affect stress levels, yet the reject elephant management models that allow for increased study continues to use these four samples as representation for all autonomy and less interaction with visitors by asserting they are observation-only tourism activities. It concludes that elephants at negative for elephants.62–64 It is disconcerting that an expansion of saddled riding, followed by elephants performing in shows show the commercial captive elephant industry is accepted by these the lowest FGM concentrations (suggesting lowest stress). It institutions, while choosing methodologies that lead to discrediting asserts that elephants at observation-only activities show the or ignoring benefits of less intensive alternative elephant tourism second highest FGM concentration. attractions, such as observation-only models. This rather unexpected result warrants scrutinising the study’s One study, for example, investigated the distance walked by methodology or principle assumptions about FGM measurements elephants at five camps, one of which was an observation-only value as sole animal welfare indicator. The study also identified camp, to evaluate the amount of exercise the elephants engaged that elephants with behavioural problems, such as stereotypies, in.64 The distance travelled by riding elephants was calculated showed lower FGM concentrations. based on the number of rides and distance of each ride. This finding might possibly be caused due to the reduction of However, the study concluded that the distance walked by the stress hormones through the coping function that stereotypies are elephants at the observation-only camp was ‘0 km’. often assumed to have. However, regardless of lower FGM, Here, the researchers apparently ignored the fact that free- stereotypies indicate exposure to high stress situations or roaming elephants will still move during the entire day and that psychological trauma. The study does not disclose the kind of movement at riding camps is always dependent on visitor camps most of the stereotypies occurred. It also does not consider availability. If there are no visitors, the elephants usually remain that this stereotyie-induced reduction of FGM measurements might chained and be prevented from moving. have affected the results regarding FGM values at different tourism activities offered at camps. Another study measured faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) to assess stress levels of elephants at camps offering different Our studies indicate that elephants are much more likely to show tourist activities. While FGM can indeed be used to measure stereotypic behaviour at lower welfare venues, such as those acute stress, it is considerably less reliable for situations where offering rides and shows. This could be one factor that influenced chronic poor welfare conditions might exist. the FGM study’s results and further indicates the unreliability of FGM measurements in isolation for determining animal welfare. Several studies highlighted the varied responses to social isolation or general poor welfare states in animals, which even showed decreased glucocorticoid values in such cases.82–85 FGM measurements are also considered unreliable when it comes to Image: Two elephants at a sanctuary in Thailand. correlating them with specific factors in uncontrolled environments. They should not be used in isolation to reflect on animal welfare.86–89 At any given moment, a multitude of factors influences the cortisol secretion in an individual animal. The sampling procedure can affect the measurement, as can whether an animal has grown habituated to specific low welfare conditions. In the study on FGM in captive elephants mentioned above, samples from 59 elephants of 11 elephant-riding camps were collected. However, only four samples from one observation-only camp were included to represent this less intensive tourism activity
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Appendix 2
List of venues with best welfare conditions* Country Name Offered visitor activities
Cambodia Elephant Valley Project No rides, observing elephants only, elephants free-roaming in natural habitat India Wildlife SOS - Elephant Conservation and Care No rides, observing elephants only Centre Laos Laos Elephant Conservation Centre No rides, observing elephants, following elephants free-roaming in natural habitat, occassional feeding Laos Mandalao No rides, observing elephants, following elephants in forest and fields, limited feeding & touching of elephants Nepal Association Moey No rides, observing elephants, following elephants in natural habitat Nepal Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge No rides, observing elephants only, following elephants in forest and fields Sri Lanka Elephant Transit Home No rides, observing elephants only Thailand BEES (Burm & Emily's Elephant Sanctuary) No rides, observing elephants only, following elephants in forest and fields Thailand Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary No rides, observing elephants only, following elephants in forest and fields Thailand Chang Chill No rides, observing elephants only, following elephants in forest and fields Thailand Elephant Nature Park No rides, observing elephants in forest and fields, feeding of elephants Thailand Elephant Valley Thailand** No rides, observing elephants, following elephants in forest and fields, feeding of elephants once daily Thailand Following Giants No rides, observing elephants only, following elephants in forest and fields Thailand Global Vision International (GVI) Huay Pakoot No rides, observing elephants only, following elephants in forest, limited feeding of elephants Thailand Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary No rides, observing elephants only, elephants free-roaming in natural habitat Thailand Mahouts Elephant Foundation - LIFE No rides, observing elephants only, following elephants in forest Thailand Phuket Elephant Sanctuary No rides, observing elephants, following elephants in forest, limited feeding of elephants Thailand Tree Tops Elephant Reserve Phuket No rides, observing elephants, following elephants in forest, limited feeding of elephants
Anantara Resort’s Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) featured on our best scoring venues list in Taken for a ride 1. For this round of assessment, less than half of the 18 elephants present were involved in the observation-based activities, which allow for excellent conditions. However, all venues are assessed for the conditions present for the majority of animals. Somboon Legacy is an observation-only venue that has also unfortunately barely missed a listing. As a new venue it is anticipated that they will further improve though and thus this should warrant a mention here.
*Assessment scores of 9 and 10. Some of the listed venues allow for some direct interaction with elephants while still providing excellent welfare conditions for them. We encourage those venues to consider abandoning such activities to become observation-only.
**This venue has now closed following the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Appendix 3
Unassessed venues* The following venues were identified during the study, but couldn’t be visited or only opened after the field research was already completed.
Country Name Offered visitor activities
Cambodia Elephant Sanctuary Cambodia No rides, observing elephants in natural habitat only, forest restoration and site development, minimum 1 week volunteering
Thailand Hope for Elephants No rides, elephant bathing, feeding, following elephants in forest and fields
Thailand Karen Elephant Oasis No rides, elephant bathing, feeding, following elephants in forest and fields
Thailand Pamper a Pachyderm No rides, elephant bathing, feeding, following elephants in forest and fields
Thailand Elephant Wellness No rides, elephant bathing, feeding, following elephants in forest and fields
Thailand Majestic Elephant Project No rides, elephant bathing, feeding, following elephants in forest and fields
Thailand Elephant Heaven No rides, elephant bathing, feeding, following elephants in forest and fields
Thailand Elephant Homestay Khun Chai Thong No rides, elephant bathing, feeding, following elephants in forest and fields
Thailand Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) No rides, elephant washing, elephant feeding, husbandry tasks, minimum 1 week volunteering or day visits
Thailand Phuket Elephant Park No rides, elephant feeding, petting, following elephants in forest and fields
*As identified through flyer/brochure, venue website or TripAdvisor photographs and comments.
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Appendix 4
Welfare condition scoring table used for the assessment of elephant venues in this report. The conditions that applied to the majority of elephants at each venue was scored.
Category / 0 1 2 3 4 Score
Self-determined Activity <20% self- Activity 20-50% self- Activity 50-80% self- Activity 50-80% self- Activity >80% self- behaviour determined; outside of determined; outside of determined; outside of determined; outside of determined ; free and activity mostly required to activity often required to be activity in pen up to activity access to natural unrestricted movement in be inactive or severely inactive or moderately 200sqm or similar space/enclosure 200- natural space/enclosure restrained (short chains restrained (medium long 2,000sqm day+night or >2,000sqm day and night <=3m) chains >3-10m/controlled) >2,000sqm day but long chain (>10m) or pen at night
Hygiene Old feces + urine present, Old faeces + urine present, Only recent faeces + urine, Clean and dry surface, Clean and dry surface, free moist surface, stench, no some drainage, showering, dry ground, short baths regular baths choice of clean water, access to pool/shower no baths baths and dust/mud baths
Environmental Direct vicinity to traffic, loud Intermediate of 0 and 2 Occasional traffic or small Intermediate of 2 and 4 No noise except natural noise quality speaker, large crowds visitor groups, no electronic sounds noise
Daytime rest Concrete ground, Intermediate of 0 and 2 Dirt ground with medium Intermediate of 2 and 4 Natural ground with area unavoidable exposure to shelter possibility (e.g sufficient and adequate sunlight/rain single tree) shelter options
Naturalness Urban or fully artificial Intermediate of 0 and 2 Natural environment Intermediate of 2 and 4 Fully based in natural environment with no surroundings but immediate environment resemblance of natural vicinity only artificial habitat at all structures
Social Solitary - no visual contact Visual but no tactile contact Tactile contact but no Small social grouping Possibility of free interaction interaction with conspecifics social grouping possible with creation of social network
Diet quality Inadequate amounts Adequate amounts but Adequate amounts, pre- Adequate amounts, pre- Sufficient natural food (<75kg/1000kg body limited variety and quality, selected good variety and selected cultivated and sources to select from, free weight) and limited variety only cultivated foods quality, mostly cultivated, natural foods, ad-libitum choice of consumption always food available, not water and food free water access
Visitor Regular shows including No shows or shows with Smaller visitor groups Visitor interaction with No direct interaction with interaction unnatural behaviours, very only natural behaviour, (<=10 per elephants very limited and visitors, elephants only intensity high density of visitors in frequent repetitive (<=1h elephant/day/venue), less non-intrusive (e.g. protected displaying voluntary, vicinity of elephants (> 20 duration) activities e.g. repetitive activities (>1h feeding) and entirely natural behaviour per elephant a rides, direct visitor programs) through mostly voluntary elephant according their preferences day/venue), frequent interaction with elephants, unvoluntary elephant participation repetitive (<=1h) activities high density of visitors in participation (e.g. washing, (e.g. saddled rides), direct vicinity of elephants (11-20 be-a-mahout) visitor interaction with per elephant a day/venue) elephants
Animal Inappropriate usage of Strong and frequent use of Use of ankhus limited only Intermediate of 2 and 4 Use of ankhus limited only Management ankhus, visible wounds on ankhus, treatment only by to required situations, focus to emergency situations, elephants, elephants annual or bi-annual vet on visitor experience over focus on best situation for constantly saddled, no vet visits, elephants constantly elephant situation, call or elephants, use of positive treatments saddled transport to vet, no saddle reinforcement training unless ready to ride where feasible, resident vet or strong vet support
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